Perils of reporting in the Middle East

Posted: Friday, April 27, 2007 9:15 AM

By Karl Bostic, NBC News Producer

VIDEO: The abduction of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston in Gaza on March 12 illustrates the dangers facing journalists in the Middle East.

Watch video of the protests and rallies held over the last month by Israeli and Palestinian journalists demanding the release of Johnston and hear journalists discuss how his abduction will affect future reporting from Gaza.

VIDEO: Protests demanding Alan Johnston's return

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Comments

If the israelis would simply release the thousands of palestinian political prisoners, the palestinians would stop capturing westerners! C'mon Israel, let them go. Amnesty International should be all over you guys!!!

Nantucket (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 11:38 AM)

Was Johnston working for MI6 or Mossad? That's the real question.

T.J. - Lancaster, Mass (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 11:53 AM)

'perils of reporting'? gimme a break! next you'll be complaining about post traumatic stress disorder. if you can't hack it, get a job baking cookies. wimps!

ed suttee, texas (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 12:42 PM)

as if the reporters covering the israel occupation are "neutral". the palestinians have every right to hold the reporter. israel must release the thousands of politcical prisoners for there to be a chance for peace.

Mikail, Moscow (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 12:46 PM)

As they say in journalism school: "if you're too wimpy for the middle east, then report from darfur"

Ted (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 12:48 PM)

We should all ask ourselves the question, "Now, exactly why is it that they hate us so much?" (what are the reasons they wish to kidnap westerners?)

Fabian Tentse, LA (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 3:49 PM)

It is terrible that these people have to kidnap journalists who are not bothering anyone and just doing their job. It was good that there were so many shouts for Alan Johnston's release. I hope those who are holding him hear those shouts and free him unharmed to his family safe and sound. Please keep safe all you journalists in the Middle East. Stay safe everyone! Peace to all!

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta, Georgia (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 5:44 PM)

Free Alan! Free ALL political prisoners!

Theisiger, T. (Sent Friday, April 27, 2007 8:57 PM)

it's ironic that the reporters whine about a single man when there are thousands of palestinians captured illegally an imprisoned by the jews... where has all the press been concerning these hostages all these years?

Aqarius (Sent Saturday, April 28, 2007 12:39 PM)

Reporters, don't risk your lives. Bush invaded Iraq for oil, and there will never be peace as long as America stays in Iraq. It simply isn't worth it to be a hero for the corporate press who, by the way, failed to report Bush's oil greed. http://bushliar.newcovenanttheology.com

Gary Anderson Reno, NV (Sent Sunday, April 29, 2007 12:31 AM)

What so many people do not KNOW is that the majority of the press in ISRAEL are just as liberal in eporting as their Western counter-part. Most reporters in Israel are PRO PALESTINIAN. I know - I just came back from Israel and sae that for myself.

Sheila, Texas (Sent Monday, April 30, 2007 10:45 AM)

it's because the united states is driving a wedge between the jews and muslims in israel; the u.s. can then use issues like this to invade the middle east. the jews and palestinians would probably be getting along fine if not for u.s. intervention and self-interest, i.e. oil and global domination

i've been there also (Sent Monday, April 30, 2007 11:34 AM)

if the reporters would not report people would not have such opinions release him

sid weiss monsey n.y. 10952 (Sent Monday, April 30, 2007 9:19 PM)

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