The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) kidnapped three members of the international media, including KBS correspondent Yong Tae Young, then released them a day later. The incident is different in character from the kidnapping and murder of Kim Seon Il in Iraq two years ago, but it is very worrisome that an event of similar aspects has taken place once again. We need to learn what can be learned from what has happened and pool collective wisdom together to prevent something similar from happening again.
It is a morally unjustified act of violence to kidnap a journalist in an area to cover the news. The reason Yong was kidnapped had nothing to do with Korea or the man himself. Furthermore, Yong had just arrived to cover Hamas, which won the Palestinian elections two months ago. It was foolish to kidnap a journalist in town to convey the voices of Palestinians to the world. The PFLP would not have kidnapped him had it thought about its actions would be seen in the eyes of the world.
The immediate cause of this was Israel's reckless "state terror," which is deserving of criticism. Suspecting that a PFLP leader might be let out of a Palestinian prison, Israel attacked the facility with tanks and helicopters. It is suspicious that the American and British personnel managing the prison were absent at the time. There is strong suspicion that they conspired to hurt Hamas. Those three nations have threatened to stop aid for Palestine and have not recognized Hamas' assumption of power. The leading theory is that Israeli hard-liners wanted to win votes from conservatives ahead of the general election coming in ten days. Whatever the case, it is the self-righteousness of the powerful, which says, "I have the power, so I can do whatever I want."
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict goes back more than half a century, and is therefore complex and the mutual hate runs deep. The hard-liners on each side live on hate, and if they each take over there will just be more bloodshed and no resolution. Each government needs to make it clear they intend to move towards peace. If kidnappings like these continue the world will turn its back on both sides.
Korea needs to reevaluate its foreign policy in the Middle East. Fortunately our country has relatively good relations both with the Palestinians and Israelis. We need to look for ways to participate in the effort to establish peace in the region.
The Hankyoreh, 16 March 2006.
[Translations by Seoul Selection]
[Editorial] Kidnapping Caused by Hate and Self-Righteousness |
