Studies show that US coverage is Israeli-centric. The main bureaus for CNN, Associated Press, Time, etc. are located in Israel and often staffed by Israelis. The son of the NY Times bureau chief is in the Israeli army;"pundit" Jeffrey Goldberg served in the IDF; Wolf Blitzer worked for AIPAC. Because the U.S. gives Israel over $8 million/day - more than to any other nation - we feel it is essential that we be fully informed on this region. Below are news reports to augment mainstream coverage.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Israeli settlers give women weapons training

Jewish settlers holding Israeli flags march during a protest near the West Bank settlement of Beit El, near Ramallah September 20, 2011. Settlers protested on Tuesday against Palestinian plans to seek United Nations endorsement of a state in the occupied West Bank (Reuters/Ronen Zvulun)

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli settlers began a weapons training program for women in the settlements on Wednesday, Israeli media said.

The training started with a five hour course on the use of guns and M16 rifles for six women from Pnei Kedem, a Jewish-only settlement in the West Bank district of Hebron, according to Hebrew language daily Maariv.

The course is for self-defense and family protection if Palestinians attack the settlements, the report said, adding that the project will expand in preparation for possible clashes with Palestinians.

Palestinian villagers and officials have reported an escalation of attacks from settlers in the West Bank in the lead-up to the Palestinian bid for membership of the UN.

Israeli settlers refuse an independent Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank, and rallied on Tuesday to express "our sovereignty on the land," settler spokesman David Haivri said.
at 9/22/2011 07:07:00 AM