The other British hostage

The kidnapping of the British naval personnel by Iran has overshadowed the case of BBC correspondent Alan Johnson; who was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip shortly before the Iranians acted. The Jerusalem Post carries this report which contains two interesting twists. The first one is the suggestion from security officials from the Palestinian Authority on who might have played a role in that kidnapping:

PA security officials told the Post that they were looking into the possibility that some Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip may have been involved in the kidnappings. They claimed that local journalists have been trying to keep foreign journalists away from the Gaza Strip for fear that they would take their jobs.

"We have evidence that at least in one case Palestinian journalists were involved in a kidnapping," the officials said. "Before accusing the Palestinian Authority, the journalists should launch an investigation into what's happening in their ranks."

In response to the kidnapping the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has called for a three day protest boycotting the reporting of any news from the Gaza Strip:

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate on Saturday called on the local and foreign media to boycott the Palestinian Authority in response to the kidnapping of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston in Gaza City three weeks ago.

Meanwhile, a prominent human rights activist in the Gaza Strip expressed fear that the kidnapping of foreign journalists was designed to "prevent the world from seeing what's really happening here." It's obvious, the activist said, "that those behind the kidnappings want to have a monopoly over the news coverage in the Gaza Strip. They don't want the world to see the anarchy on the streets and the infighting between Fatah and Hamas. Unfortunately, they have succeeded in achieving their goal because most foreign journalists are today afraid to come to the Gaza Strip."

Naim Toubasi, chaimran of the syndicate, told The Jerusalem Post that the boycott would begin on Monday and continue for three days. "We have called on all journalists to refarin from covering any news about the Palestinian Authority, inlcuding the government, to protest against the continued abduction of the BBC reporter," he said.

Ironically, no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Alan Johnson.