Kidnap in Gaza
September 28, 2004 | Aussie Dave | Comments
As you have no doubt already heard, PLO Arab gunmen have kidnapped an Israeli Arab journalist who works as a producer and translator for CNN.
Palestinian gunmen on Monday kidnapped an Israeli Arab journalist working for CNN as he was riding in a taxi in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City.Riad Ali Ghanem, 40, a Druze from the village of Maghar in the Galilee, was kidnapped after a group of armed men stopped the taxi he was riding in with CNN Correspondent Ben Wedeman and a CNN camerawoman.A white Peugeot pulled in front of the taxi, blocking its way, Wedeman said.“A young man got out of the car, pulled a gun out of his trousers, came up and said to me – actually in Arabic – ‘Which one of you is Riad?’”Ali answered, “I am Riad,” Wedeman said.The kidnapper ordered Ali to get out of the taxi, Wedeman said. As he did so, several other men, some with AK-47 rifles, came out of the Peugeot.Wedeman said the kidnappers made no attempt to cover their faces.“They took him out of the car and drove him away,” said Wedeman. No one was injured in the incident.
I concur with Shai that this isn’t a particularly smart move.
Good morning, Palestinian numbnuts. In case it hadn’t occurred to you, now is a really bad time to start kidnapping foreigners in Gaza. That is, unless your goal is to get the world to associate you with the depraved animals kidnapping foreigners in Iraq.
Well, actually, the association between the terrorists in Israel and the terrorists in Iraq is more than just a perceived one. It is an actual association.
Meanwhile, don’t expect CNN itself to use the “t” word in relation to the kidnapping. In fact, they are bending over backwards to dissociate Hamas (which is only a “militant” group) from the act.
A group of armed men abducted a CNN producer in Gaza City on Monday.There has been no claim of responsibility for the abduction of CNN producer Riad Ali, and the militant group Hamas condemned it.“We emphasize that this ugly incident is a violation of the sanctity of journalism and contradicts the morals of the Palestinian people,” Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
No surprises there.
Filed Under: General
About the Author: An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.
Loading ...
