LONDON - Palestinian organizations in the United Kingdom condemn in the strongest terms the abduction of BBC journalist in Gaza, Alan Johnston, on Sunday, March 18, 2007. The abduction of Johnston is hardly a first in Gaza, where chaos and insecurity, exasperated by the Israeli military and international pressures, have given rise to a stream of kidnappings, mostly targeting aid workers and journalists.

Johnston, known for his outstanding journalistic integrity and even handedness, is, reportedly, the only Western journalist who is based in the impoverished Gaza Strip on a full time  basis.

“This is outrageous and stands at odds with the principles of the Palestinian struggle,” said, the representative of the Palestinian Organisation in UK. “Aside from the non existent ethical values of those who kidnapped Johnston, their debased act is harming the image of the Palestinian people and their rightful struggle against the Israeli occupation. Palestinians, everywhere, are shocked at such decadent act. We, in one voice, we demand the immediate release of the BBC correspondent.”

Moreover, Palestinian organizations in the UK wish to convey two messages, one of total sympathy with the Johnston’s family, and deepest apologies on behalf of all Palestinians for this act committed by a few misguided elements. Mr. Johnston is widely respected among Palestinians everywhere, especially those familiar with his consistent and hard hitting reports from the often ignored Gaza.

The second message is to the BBC and to all of Alan’s colleagues: while we hope that your colleague’s release would be secured very soon, we strongly declare our support and solidarity with you in these difficult times; your invaluable mission must not be interrupted, and any attempt to intimidate you to pull out your last journalist from Gaza must be thwarted.

Those responsible for such despicable acts neither speak nor represent the views of the Palestinian people. The Gaza vigil on Monday, in which over 400 Palestinian journalists took part, in support of Mr. Johnston is the true representation of the Palestinian people and their culture of tolerance.

We hope to hear the good news of Mr. Johnston’s release very soon, and we also hope that no such acts will take place to silence or intimidate journalists in Palestine, or anywhere else.

Palestinian Return Centre
The Palestinian Forum
The Association of the Palestinian Community in the UK
Al-Awda Coalition