Kidnapping journalists never helps

Palestinian officials have confirmed that an armed Palestinian militant group has kidnapped a Spanish Associated Press photographer in Gaza.

It's very hard to feel sympathy towards a cause when members of said cause resort to kidnapping journalists. Journalists, despite our fleas, are critical to society and democratic ideals. The Palestinians do not help their situation by targeting journalists any more than the US helped their cause in Iraq when Marines shot Reuters journalist Terry Lloyd in the opening days of the Iraq war. Journalists should be held to the highest standards, however kidnapping is never an appropriate means to enforce those high standards.

For more information on international press freedom visit Reporters Without Borders.