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.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Lawyers to boycott military courts in Ofer prison

Ma'an
Lawyers representing Palestinian prisoners in Israel announced on Monday that they will boycott all legal proceedings held at the Ofer prison, in a statement issued by the Palestinian Prisoners' Society.

The boycott is a response to a military order which prohibits the entry of the detainees' families and West Bank lawyers to be present at any of Ofer's military courts.

Israeli authorities had told the lawyers concerned that the decision had been overturned but relatives and West Bank lawyers hoping to attend a hearing on Monday at Ofer were refused entry, the statement said.

The Israeli authorities' decision constitutes a clear violation of international law, the statement concluded, highlighting that it contravenes all laws guaranteeing the right to a public hearing and appropriate pleading.

Prohibiting the defendant from meeting with his or her lawyer further comprises an infringement of internationally recognized legal ethical standards.

Israel's military courts are widely condemned as arbitrary and illegal, in itself a violation of the Geneva Convention to which Israel is a signatory. Full story

More information on PPS
at 1/11/2010 07:29:00 AM