Israel Matzav

Remember Alan Johnston?

Remember Alan Johnston, the BBC reporter and useful idiot who was kidnapped in Gaza three weeks ago? Well, someone remembers. This ad appeared in al-Guardian on Monday (some of the signatures were cut when I snagged it):

The ad, organised by the BBC and placed in the MediaGuardian section, has 300 signatories, including Sir David Frost, BBC director general Mark Thompson, CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, Jon Snow, Jeremy Paxman, John Humphrys and Sir Trevor McDonald.

Virtually every UK national newspaper editor has signed, including the Guardian's Alan Rusbridger, the Times' Robert Thomson and the Sunday Times' John Witherow; the Sunday Telegraph's Patience Wheatcroft and the Daily Telegraph's Will Lewis; the Daily Mail's Paul Dacre; and the Daily Mirror's Richard Wallace.

The ad is also backed by the ITV News editor-in-chief, David Mannion; the director of BBC news, Helen Boaden; the BBC director of radio, Jenny Abramsky; Channel 4 controller of news and current affairs Dorothy Byrne; head of Sky News John Ryley; and the Channel 4 director of television content, Kevin Lygo.

"We, the undersigned, demand the immediate release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston," the ad states.

"It's now been 21 days since Alan was abducted and we have still not received firm word about his whereabouts or his condition ... We ask again that everyone with influence on this situation increase their efforts, to ensure that Alan is freed quickly and unharmed."

...

Palestinian journalists are planning a rally and a boycott of coverage of government activities to press for his release.

And here's the part of the ad that is missing from the text above:

Alan has worked in Gaza for three years -- he decided to live in the area as he felt it was the only way to tell the story of the people of Gaza.

Useful idiot.

Arutz Sheva is reporting this morning that Johnston's kidnappers have been identified:

The kidnappers of British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) reporter Alan Johnston have been identified, but no further information has surfaced, according to the American-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Johnston was kidnapped last month in Gaza, where he has made his home for three years.

Palestinian Authority (PA) Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said the identification of the kidnappers was based on the preliminary information, but the group has denied any involvement.

Journalists in Gaza began on Monday a three-day boycott of PA government news in an effort to pressure officials to secure his release.

I guess no one wants to say whether they are Fatah or Hamas.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:30 AM