“Israelinstagram”

And you were worried about what your little sister posts on Instagram?  This shot (no pun intended) was found on the Instagram of Mor Ostrovski, a sniper in the Israeli Defense Force.  It’s safe to say this unassuming and unaware child is Palestinian, with the backdrop most likely the West Bank, an area that the IDF has and continues to maintain strict control over.  Ostrovski has various other pictures on his account of him posed with weaponry common in the IDF, but this picture clearly stands alone in its alarming content.  Though there were no further images, it is not believed Ostrovski took the shot, simply capturing this scene for some disturbing satisfaction.  IDF officials say that this behavior is not common among their soldiers, and that Ostrovski himself has been sentenced to 2 weeks in military prison.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but this one brings to mind a thousand questions.  The IDF claim to both protect the Palestinian and fight the insurgents they claim pose a serious threat to the Israeli state, but this picture highlights serious issues regarding the role and methods within what many call the world’s largest open air prison.  Sadly, the abuse and killing of Palestinians within the West Bank and Gaza is nothing new to either state, or the international community at large, but violence against children appears seldom, though not unheard of.  The fact that this sniper was targeting a child brings to mind cases such as that of Yifat Alkobi, who allegedly stuffed rocks into a Palsestinian boys mouth and clamped it shut, shattering his teeth (http://www.haaretz.com/news/police-investigate-hebron-settler-filmed-attacking-arabs-1.209807).  Another concerning trend brought to light by this picture is that of Israel’s use of both sexual and violent imagery through social media to promote the allure of the IDF, in a technique referred to as “sporno.” With no end to the occupation and mistreatment of Palestine in the future, we can only watch and be wary of the next telling sign of Israel’s oppression.

Originally story from The Electronic Intifada (http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/israeli-soldier-posts-disturbing-instagram-photo-child-crosshairs-his-rifle

-Max Chantha

A Palestinian family cry after their home was demolished by Israeli forces in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Beit Hanina on February 5, 2013. Although East Jerusalem belongs to Palestinians, they have to obtain building permits from Israel — an almost impossible task — as Israel continues its ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in its goal to ‘Judaize’ Jerusalem.

Israeli authorities claim that the building was constructed without proper permits and that its structure was not sound. The 33-member family says it was waiting to receive permits.

Palestinians also struggle to meet the required conditions to apply for a permit. For example, the cost of obtaining permits can be as much as the cost of construction of the actual building.

Not only do they rarely issue permits to Palestinians to build on their own land, Israel continues building settlements on said land. Approximately 192,000 and 330,000 Jewish settlers live illegally in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, Palestine. The Jewish-only settlements in which they live are illegal under international law. Furthermore, the Israeli government assists Israeli settlers in taking over Palestinian homes.

Israel refuses to halt settlement construction as a precondition to resume peace talks.

Photographs: Ammar Awad (Reuters) / Bernat Armangue (AP)

Disabled troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face an unexpected battle: the Department of Veterans Affairs’ still-massive stack of disability benefit claims, leading to processing delays of six months or more.

Nationwide, 820,105 vets are waiting on a response to claims of a disease, injury or illness suffered in the military.

260: Average number of days that a veteran waits for the government to respond to his or her claim as of 8/2012.

Compare backlogs and wait times at the 58 VA regional offices on this interactive map. It automatically updates weekly, tracking in real-time whether the VA is living up to its promises to improve.

Tragedy in Russia: Hundreds have been reported injured after a meteorite exploded midair near the city of Chelyabinsk in Russia’s Ural Mountains Friday. Said Nadezhda Golovko, deputy head of Chelyabinsk Secondary School No. 130:

When I saw some white narrow cloud moving outside the window I ran up to it and saw a huge blinding flash. It was like the way I would imagine a nuclear bomb. At first, there was no sound at all as if I suddenly went deaf

Russian authorities have rushed to the scene in mass, assessing damage and making sure there’s no increase in radiation levels as a result of the impact.

Read more about the impact over at World Now.

(Photos via Nasha Gazeta / www.ng.kz / Associated Press, Oleg Kargopolov / AFP/Getty Images, Chelyabinsk.ru / Associated Press)

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The hommie Jonathan Velazquez a.k.a Prof. K’s new song Love Notes. For sure my favorite song he has released. Expect big things from him on his upcoming EP  Desk Art. Share this awesomeness with the rest of the world.

One of the dopest people ever Cornelius Chandler a.k.a C.C is someone to look out for in the future. He will be a household name in the next few years believe me.

Another ATL native Jarren Benton Doing crazy big things. I would be so down to do a song with him. His steaze is so cracky, I love that shit.

The Nature of Ambition

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Another dope local artist Macon Hamilton. He is doing very big things and has a pretty dope following. Lyrical beast and a talented producer. Check his stuff out forreal!