This week we present Between The Lines' summary of
under-reported news stories and:
Israeli Elections a Windfall
for the Hard Right
 RealAudio
MP3
Interview with Phyllis Bennis,
fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies,"
conducted by Scott Harris
Less than a month after Israel ended its bloody three-week military offensive in Gaza, killing an estimated 1,400 Palestinians -- many of them civilians -- Israelis went to the polls on Feb. 10 to vote for members of the Knesset, or parliament. Although it was not immediately clear which party would form the next government, it was evident that rightist parties were the big winners. The Kadima party, under the leadership of Tzipi Livni, captured 28 out of 120 parliament seats while Likud, the party of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, won 27 seats. Beating the once dominant Labor party for third place was Avigdor Lieberman, of the Israel is Our Home party, with 15 seats. Lieberman, viewed by many as a racist, anti-Arab extremist with his calls for Israeli Arabs to take a loyalty oath to remain citizens, could be the "kingmaker" in forming the next government.
With the numbers of right-wing seats now in parliament, Netanyahu is viewed as having the best chance of winning the necessary support to become Israel's next prime minister. While saying that he would agree to engaging in negotiations with Palestinians, the hardline Likud leader shows his hawkish side when declaring that he would never return the occupied Golan Heights to Syria. Tzipi Livni, one of the architects of the Gaza assault, has stated that the Jewish state has no option but to continue with internationally backed peace talks with the Palestinians.
Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies, who examines the results of the Feb. 10 Israeli election, the unvarnished positions of the major parties, and what it might mean for the future of Middle East peace negotiations.
That was Phyllis Bennis' books include "Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer." Read her article, "Israeli Elections and the Rise of the Right" online at fpif.org
Related links:
- Institute for Policy Studies at www.ips-dc.org
- "Israeli Elections and the Rise of the Right" by Phyllis Bennis, Foreign Policy in Focus, Feb. 12, 2009
- "Worldwide Protests Condemn Israel's Gaza Attack and Occupation," Excerpt of speech by Adam Shapiro, co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement, at a Jan. 9 New Haven, Conn. protest rally, produced by Melinda Tuhus
- "Israel's November Violation of Gaza Cease-Fire Sets Stage for Current Conflict,"Interview with Ali Abunimah, conducted by Scott Harris, Between The Lines, Week Ending Jan. 16, 2009
- "CNN Confirms Israel Broke Cease-Fire First in November,"Rick Sanchez, CNN, Jan. 5, 2009
- Electronic Intifada at www.electronicintifada.net
- "Hardline Jewish Settler Violence Against IDF Has Alienated Many Israelis," Interview with Hagit Ofran, conducted by Melinda Tuhus, Between The Lines Week Ending Dec. 19, 2008
- U.S. Chapter of Peacenow.org at peacenow.org
- Other Voice -- A group for a civil solution in the Sderot-Gaza region at www.othervoice.org
U.S. Press Follows Washington Script
in Demonizing Venezuela's Chavez
RealAudio
MP3
Interview with Steve Rendall,
senior analyst with
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting,
conducted by Scott Harris
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez won an important electoral victory on Feb. 15, when voters passed a referendum abolishing term limits for all offices in the oil-rich nation, including the presidency. Chavez, in power since 1998, has vowed to extend and consolidate his self-described socialist Bolivarian revolution if he should win re-election in 2013, the year his current term in office expires.
Often bluntly critical of President Bush and Washington's policies toward Latin America, Chavez has infuriated U.S. powerbrokers by using his country's oil resources to redistribute wealth to Venezuela's poor, nationalizing American-owned corporations and making alliances with U.S. adversaries. The U.S. media often parrots the government's demonization of Chavez, branding him an egomaniacal demagogue and dictator, even as the White House backed an unsuccessful military coup against the democratically-elected leader in 2002.
While the negative media coverage of Chavez is predictable, it decidedly is not even-handed, as noted in a recent study of American newspaper editorials about Venezuela as compared with neighboring Colombia, a staunch U.S.-ally. In a new report titled, "Human Rights Coverage Serving Washington's Needs," the group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, or FAIR, found editors downplaying Colombia's abuses and amplifying Venezuela's. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Steve Rendall, senior analyst with FAIR, who summarizes the report observing that U.S. newspapers seem more interested in reinforcing official U.S. policy toward the region than in genuinely supporting the rights of Colombians and Venezuelans.
FAIR's report, "Human Rights Coverage Serving Washington's Needs," can be read online at www.fair.org. Or call their office at (212) 633-6700.
Related links:
Largest U.S. Civil Disobedience Action
on Climate Change Set for March 2nd
RealAudio
MP3
Interview with Joshua Kahn Russell,
organizer with the Capitol Climate Action,
conducted by Melinda Tuhus
On March 2, green organizers expect thousands of people to descend on Washington, D.C. for the largest environmentally-focused civil disobedience action ever held in the U.S. The activists will focus on the partially coal-fired plant that powers the Capitol building and call for an urgent and immediate shift to renewable energy to reduce the impact of global warming. The day is timed to coincide with PowerShift '09, an energy conference which is expected to bring 10,000 mostly young activists to the capital to push for bold climate and clean energy policies.
The civil disobedience, called Capitol Climate Action, is being organized by a coalition of 70 groups. The organizers believe that with a new administration and a new Congress, there is now a unique window of opportunity to effect policy. They hope that this action will be a rallying cry for a clean energy economy to protect both public health and the planet's fragile climate.
Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Joshua Kahn Russell, grassroots actions manager at Rainforest Action Network, one of the principal organizers of the protest. He discusses the rationale for the protest and the leadership role young people are now taking on the issue of climate change.
For more information, and details on how to participate at various levels, visit www.capitolclimateaction.org. Or call Rainforest Action Network at (415) 398-4404.
This week's summary
of under-reported news
RealAudio
MP3
Compiled by Bob Nixon
- China's population and family planning commission has released a study showing birth defects increased 40 percent from 2001 through 2006, a period of explosive industrial growth in the nation. ("China Blames Pollution for Surge in Birth Defects" Los Angeles Times, Feb. 14, 2009)
- A 2006 United Nations report says internationally, the livestock sector accounts for 18 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, more than all modes of transportation combined. ("Are Cows Worse than Cars?" American Prospect, December 2008)
- With tax credits to finance affordable housing development collapsing with the housing market, housing advocates are hoping for a boost from the Obama stimulus plan and new investor interest from energy and manufacturing companies. ("Affordable Housing Hits a Wall in Time of Need," Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 6, 2009)
Credits:
Executive producer: Scott Harris
Segment producers: Scott Harris, Melinda Tuhus
Senior news editor: Bob Nixon
Program narration: Denise Manzari
News reader: Ruben Abreu
Copy editor: Chris Ferrio
Senior web editor/producer: Anna Manzo
Web producer: Jeffrey P. Yates
Web consultant: Gary Trujillo
Newswire editor: Hank Hoffman
Photo editor: Scott Harris
Outreach coordinator: Anna Manzo
Distribution: Anna Manzo and Jeffrey P. Yates
Theme music: Written by Richard Hill and Jody Gray, and performed by Mikata
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Last Week's Program
Between The Lines Week Ending 2/20/09
Between The Lines' Blog
"Reading Between The Lines"
U.S. Politics
"Blue Dogs: The Democrats Who Love Big Business," by Christopher Hayes, The Nation, Feb. 17, 2009
"Late Change in Course Hobbled Rollout of Geithner's Bank Plan," Washington Post, Feb. 17, 2009
"Labor's Man Joins Treasury Team," by William Greider, The Nation, Feb. 16, 2009
"Obama's Caterpillar Visit a Thumb in the Eye for Human Rights Activists," by Stephen Zunes, AlterNet, Feb. 16, 2009
"Obama's Immigration Outlook: More Militarism, Abuse," by Roberto Lovato, Of América, Feb. 16, 2009
"Obama Will Fight with Us to Quash the Campaign to Loot Social Security -- Right?," by William Greider, The Nation, Feb. 16, 2009
"Obama and liberals: a counter-productive relationship," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Feb. 13, 2009
More newswire ...
Economy
"Elderly New Yorkers Angry as Crisis Hits Poorest" Reuters, Feb. 17, 2009
"Ghost Story: Put Banks Out of Their Misery," by Nicholas Von Hoffman, The Nation, Feb. 17, 2009
"The Oligarchs' Escape Plan: Finance Capitalism Hits a Wall," by Michael Hudson, Counterpunch, Feb. 17, 2009
"California budget crisis jeopardizes 20,000 jobs," CNN, Feb. 17, 2009
"Can Green Jobs Be Good Jobs?," by Jeremy Brecher, The Nation, Feb. 16, 2009
"Bad News From America's Top Spy," by Chris Hedges, TruthDig, Feb. 16, 2009
"Nationalizing the Banks Seems Inevitable: How Bad Does It Have to Get First?," by Joshua Holland, AlterNet, Feb. 16, 2009
"White Recession, Black Depression," by Dedrick Muhammad & Michael Brown, Counterpunch, Feb. 16, 2009
"Decade at Bernie's," by Paul Krugman, The New York Times, Feb. 16, 2009
"Obama will get no warning when the people's response to this crisis comes," by Gary Younge, Guardian/UK, Feb. 16, 2009
"Nationalize the Banks! We're all Swedes Now," by Matthew Richardson and Nouriel Roubini, Washington Post, Feb. 15, 2009
"Job Losses Pose a Threat to Stability Worldwide," The New York Times, Feb. 15, 2009
More newswire ...
Bush Accountability
"Democrats Divided Over 'Reckoning' for Bush" by William Fisher, Inter Press Service, Feb. 17, 2009
"Lawrence Walsh and America's law-free zone" by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Feb. 17, 2009
"Despite Obama pledge, Justice defends Bush secrets," Associated Press, Feb. 16, 2009
"Hold Them Accountable: Pass the Executive Accountability Act of 2009," by Justin Raimondo, Antiwar.com, Feb. 16, 2009
"Do we still pretend that we abide by treaties?," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Feb. 16, 2009
"Justice Department probe blasts Bush lawyers over 'torture' memos," Raw Story, Feb. 15, 2009
"A Torture Report Could Spell Big Trouble For Bush Lawyers," by Michael Isikoff, Newsweek, Feb. 14, 2009
More newswire ...
International Affairs
"Thinking Big on Foreign Policy Too," by Ira Chernus, Common Dreams, Feb. 17, 2009
"The Making of a New Global Strategy," by Ehsan Ahrari, Foreign Policy in Focus, Feb. 17, 2009
"Israel seizes land for settlement expansion," Associated Press, Feb. 16, 2009
"Is the U.S. Military Now an Imperial Police Force?," by Tom Engelhardt & William Astore, TomDispatch, Feb. 15, 2009
"Israel Lurches Into Fascism," by Ali Abunimah, Electronic Intifada, Feb. 14, 2009
More newswire ...
"Postwar" Occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan
"A peace sign: Iraq's Sunnis joining Shiite pilgrims," Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 17, 2009, 2009
"Obama to Send 17,000 More Troops to Afghanistan," The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2009, 2009
"Commanders in Iraq Challenge Petraeus on Pullout Risk" by Gareth Porter, Inter Press Service, Feb. 17, 2009, 2009
"Senior US soldiers investigated over missing Iraq reconstruction billions," by Patrick Cockburn, Independent/UK, Feb. 16, 2009
"Pakistan Makes a Taliban Truce, Creating a Haven," The New York Times, Feb. 16, 2009
"Pakistan Seethes After Killer Drone Disclosure," by Noah Shachtman, Danger Room, Feb. 15, 2009
"Is the U.S. repeating Soviet mistakes in Afghanistan?," by Jonathan S. Landay, McClatchy Newspapers, Feb. 14, 2009
More newswire ...
Civil Liberties/ Human Rights
"Will Obama institute a new kind of preventive detention for terrorist suspects?," by Jane Mayer, The New Yorker, Feb. 23, 2009
"Rendition is a Horrible, Violent Crime in Any Form -- It Should Not Be U.S. Policy," by Marjorie Cohn, Jurist Legal News and Research, Feb. 16, 2009
"Republicans try to block Guantánamo detainees from prisons in their districts," Guardian/UK, Feb. 16, 2009
"Former Gitmo Guard Tells All," by Scott Horton, Harper's, Feb. 15, 2009
"Finally, the Law Goes After Joe Arpaio -- the Most Abusive Sheriff In America," by Emptywheel, Firedoglake, Feb. 14, 2009
More newswire ...
Environment and Sustainability
"EPA to review Bush rule on warming emissions," MSNBC, Feb. 17, 2009
"The Environmental Food Crisis: A Crisis of Waste," Environment News Service, Feb. 17, 2009
"Burning Questions: What Does Economic 'Recovery' Mean on an Extreme Weather Planet?," by Tom Engelhardt, TomDispatch, Feb. 17, 2009
"US Reverses, Seeks Global Treaty on Mercury," Associated Press, Feb. 17, 2009
"Stimulus may put some wind in clean energy's sails," McClatchy Newspapers, Feb. 16, 2009
"A World Without Water," by Tara Lohan, The Nation, Feb. 16, 2009
"The Myth of Clean Coal," by Joshua Frank, Counterpunch, Feb. 13-15, 2009
More newswire ...
Media Issues
"Coming to NBC: 'To Catch a Cheney,'" by Jeff Cohen, Truthout, Feb. 17, 2009
"The death of the news," by Gary Kamiya, Salon, Feb. 17, 2009
"DC Journalists Love GOP Obstructionists, But Americans Don't," by Jane Hamsher, Huffington Post, Feb. 16, 2009
"Obama & the Media Dilemma," by Robert Parry, Consortium News, Feb. 16, 2009
"David Brooks reveals the mentality of the Beltway journalist," by Glenn Greenwald, Salon, Feb. 16, 2009
More newswire ...
Activism
"Unions Are Making the Big Turnaround We've Been Waiting for," Dick Meister, Portside, Feb. 17, 2009
"Activists Calling for Uprisings for Causes," Deseret News (Utah), Feb. 17, 2009
"Why America Needs Labor Unions: The Only Answer to Organized Greed," by David Macaray, Counterpunch, Feb. 17, 2009
"At a Campus Sit-In Against Israeli Occupation: An Interview with Three Participants," by Ron Jacobs, Counterpunch, Feb. 13-15, 2009
More newswire ...
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