Ha’aretz reports:
Palestinians attempted to kidnap an American journalist from a hospital in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip as Israel Defense Forces troops extended their military offensive there, Israel Radio reported Thursday morning.
The unnamed reporter managed to escape, the radio said.
What were the terrorists planned on doing with the journalist – possibly a Daniel Pearl/Nick Berg copycat execution?
Furthermore, I wonder if the journalist will actually report about this incident, and, if so, whether he/she will attribute it to the “frustrations” and “despair” of the “Palestinian people.”
Update: I have tracked down more information on the attempted kidnapping. The reporter was James Bennet from the New York Times. And although he reports the incident, it is buried at the end of his report on the events in Rafah , and, as expected, attempts to attribute it to justified PLO Arab anger.
In a highly unusual incident, at least three Palestinian men attempted to kidnap this reporter here Wednesday night. The reporter, who had identified himself at Al Najar hospital as an American, was speaking on a cellular telephone in the street in front of the hospital when a stranger approached offering a handshake, a smile and the word, “Welcome.”
When the reporter took his hand, the stranger and another man grabbed him and attempted to shove him into an aging Mercedes sedan that pulled up, its rear door open. A struggle and cries for help brought Palestinian police officers at the hospital running, and after a further struggle, the men jumped in the car and disappeared.
Anger at Americans has been building here for three years over the Bush administration’s perceived tilt toward Israel, the occupation of Iraq and, most recently, images of prisoner abuse in Iraq. An American might also be considered valuable for use in bargaining with Israel.
Update: I now have to agree with Laurence that the reporter was not James Bennet. After all, it would be pretty stupid for him to write about the experience and then ask to remain anonymous (link does not reflect this anymore, since it has been updated – ed). But then again, his use of the English language whic has caused the confusion to begin with (“this reporter”) isn’t indicative of someone who is overly intelligent.
Update: Perhaps Bennet could do with the help of these people.
Update: Allison still thinks that it was Bennet.
Update: It was Bennet after all – at least according to the Washington Times.
1 thought on “Close Call”
At first, I thought it was Bennet, too. Now, I’m not sure it’s Bennet. The story reads like coloquial “New Yawk” English.
“Dere was dis guy, you know? And he gots himself kidnapped.”
If the grammar is bad, then it shows the NYT is now not editing for grammar in addition to bias and facts.
Either way, for him to say it was highly unusual in the aftermath of Danny Pearl, Nick Berg, and Palestinian Shiite kidnappings in Lebanon in the 80’s in outright incompetence on the part of the reporter, and he is not fit to serve on that beat.
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