Israel Matzav

Spanish aid worker kidnapped in Gaza City

We have another kidnapping of a foreigner in Gaza City. This time it's 34-year old Spainard Roberto Vila, who works for the Cooperation Assembly for Peace, a Spanish charity group.

Celine Gagne, a fellow worker, said she and Vila were on their way out of Khan Younis after visiting a project for handicapped children when three or four men carrying Kalashnikov rifles stopped them.

"They asked me to stay behind," she said. The gunmen then forced Vila into their car and sped away, she said.

According to other sources, Palestinian gunmen kidnapped two foreign journalists. [It's not clear to me whether that is in addition to Vila, or instead of Vila. If the latter, it certainly seems to be incorrect. CiJ]

I don't know which of these next two statements is funnier:

Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, condemned the kidnapping. "These groups that are behind these acts do not represent the Palestinian tradition, culture and religion," he said. [Really? It's been less than a week since the last kidnapping. CiJ].

Fatah spokesman, Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, called for the immediate release of Vila. "The protection of our foreigner friends is a collective responsibility for all Palestinians," he said. [Tell that to Angelo Frammartino's family. CiJ]

What I don't understand is why otherwise sane people continue to risk their lives to help the 'Palestinians.' If you want to risk your life and at least be appreciated for it, we can supply plenty of opportunities and plenty of appreciation here in Israel.

Update: 10:10 PM

Surprise, surprise, surprise!

Aussie Dave reports that both Roberto Vila and Celine Gagne are useful idiots who work on behalf of the 'Palestinians:'

Hat Tip: Little Green Footballs

Vila and Gagne are no strangers to FOP (Friends of Palestine) abductions. Last December, they headed to Gaza after their friend, Kate Burton, was kidnapped by palestinian terrorists.

The party got into the taxi and headed for the Rafah crossing ­ which reopened after the Israeli pullout from Gaza in a deal brokered by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and is monitored by the European Union ­ to allow Palestinians from Gaza to travel in and out of Egypt. Mr Khulab said: "They wanted to see the suffering of the Palestinian people and the destruction of the border but also to see how the crossing was working."

They got to see something else: the muzzle end of a "militant" gun.

Mr Mansour said: "It all happened so quickly no one had time to say much. I said, 'What are you doing' to one of the men but he pointed the gun in my face. Kate told her father to get in the [kidnappers'] car. She was calm. No one was screaming or anything. If there was anything I could have done to stop it I would have done, believe me." Neither he nor Mr Khulab had a weapon. Mr Khulab tried to call for help on his mobile phone but the network was busy so they drove to the Rafah police station, five minutes away, and told officers what had happened. The two men stayed in Rafah until midnight desperately hoping for news. Two of Ms Burton's friends, Celine Gagne, 25, and Roberto Vila, 33, have arrived in Gaza from Ramallah hoping for news. Like her, they work for an non-governmental organisation passionately devoted to helping Palestinians under occupation.

According to other sources, Palestinian gunmen kidnapped two foreign journalists. Palestinian security officials said they were searching for a yellow Skoda.

No doubt, Vila's pro-palestinian proclivities will guarantee a similar reaction, after his inevitable release, as the one elicited from his friend Kate after hers.

Kate Burton told the BBC Arabic service she and her parents had been held in Rafah, southern Gaza, but that she could not say a bad word about her captors, who always asked whether they needed anything.

You just knew they had to be useful idiots. If the 'Palestinians' actually kidnapped someone who wasn't one of their supporters the ransom demands would come much more quickly. Look for Vila to be released sometime tomorrow.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:31 PM