Palestinians Assault Journalists Seeking Release of Alan Johnston

Over the past few days there had been reports that BBC report Alan Johnston had been executed by his captors. However, there was no way to confirm those reports.

Now, there is a ransom demand of $5 million. Guess what that money will be used for. To buy more guns and ammo so that yet more people can be kidnapped, injured, or killed. If the BBC submits to this ransom, they will be doing nothing more than aiding and abetting terrorists.

That's right. I would hold the BBC accountable for that blood money. As difficult as this is for Johnston's family, friends, and associates, $5 million will buy a lot of body bags for the Palestinian terrorists who have repeatedly made it known that they will engage in this behavior because it delivers results - money for a truly vile regime that sees terrorism as nothing more than another extension of its diplomatic efforts to eliminate Israel.

But if you think that demonstrating in Gaza to demand Johnston's release will actually bear fruit, you'd be mistaken as the thugs don't like having their authority questioned.

Meanwhile, security guards at the Palestinian Authority parliament on Tuesday scuffled with a crowd of Palestinian journalists who were demonstrating in support of Johnston, pushing back reporters and beating two of them with rifle butts.

About 200 journalists had gathered outside the building, seeking information about Johnston. When journalists tried to enter parliament to talk to lawmakers about the case, the guards violently pushed them back and barred them from entering.

They journalists called on lawmakers to come out of the building to talk to them. Some held signs and photos that said "Free Alan."

"We came to ask those lawmakers about the facts and the truth on the fate of our kidnapped colleague," said Saadi Alkasaef, an activist in the local journalists' union. "It's more than a month right now and we are concerned for Alan's life after the statement released two days ago. We came peacefully, but we are being assaulted now."

Those journalists were trying to get the members of the Palestinian Authority to address the issue. The PA is comprised of Hamas and Fatah thugs who are nothing more than terrorists dressed in suits. They act as a shield for the terrorists who operate under any number of names, but who are aligned with Fatah, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad.