Palestinian gunmen kidnap journalist

JERUSALEM – Palestinian gunmen kidnapped an Associated Press photographer in the Gaza Strip yesterday, grabbing him as he walked out of his apartment and whisking him away in their vehicle, a witness said.

Emilio Morenatti, 37, the photographer, was heading out of his apartment for an AP car, where Majed Hamdan, an AP driver and translator, was waiting. Hamdan said four gunmen grabbed his keys and phone and told him to turn away, pressing a gun to his head and threatening to harm him if he moved.Then they grabbed Morenatti, shoved him into a white Volkswagen and drove off, Hamdan said.Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, condemned the kidnapping, saying it “damages the reputation of the Palestinian people.””The government will take all steps to ensure his release,” Hamad said.Saeb Erekat, a confidant of President Mahmoud Abbas of the moderate Fatah Party, also condemned Morenatti’s kidnapping, saying it “harms Palestinian interests.””President Abbas is personally following the matter.We have been in touch with the government, the Presidential Guards and other security branches in order to acquire his immediate release,” Erekat said.Tom Curley, the AP president and chief executive officer in New York, said the company was doing everything to find Morenatti.”The Associated Press is working to find out just what happened to Emilio.We are in contact with Palestinian officials and leaders to learn more, and to try and obtain his release.Our main concern now, however, is for his safety,” Curley said.”Emilio has spent his career representing the values that AP stands for – truthful, accurate journalism that tells all sides of the story.It is a sad development when the men and women the world rely on to bring them objective news are subject to such dangers.No cause or motive can justify such senseless action,” Curley said.Morenatti, from Jerez, Spain, has been working for the AP in Jerusalem since April 2005.As part of his job, he would periodically go to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.Previously, Morenatti covered the war in Afghanistan for the AP.He also worked for EFE, the Spanish news agency.Palestinian militants in Gaza have often kidnapped foreign journalists and aid workers.All those kidnapped have been released unharmed.In August, two Fox News journalists were kidnapped in Gaza and held for two weeks.Nampa-APHamdan said four gunmen grabbed his keys and phone and told him to turn away, pressing a gun to his head and threatening to harm him if he moved.Then they grabbed Morenatti, shoved him into a white Volkswagen and drove off, Hamdan said.Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, condemned the kidnapping, saying it “damages the reputation of the Palestinian people.””The government will take all steps to ensure his release,” Hamad said.Saeb Erekat, a confidant of President Mahmoud Abbas of the moderate Fatah Party, also condemned Morenatti’s kidnapping, saying it “harms Palestinian interests.””President Abbas is personally following the matter.We have been in touch with the government, the Presidential Guards and other security branches in order to acquire his immediate release,” Erekat said.Tom Curley, the AP president and chief executive officer in New York, said the company was doing everything to find Morenatti.”The Associated Press is working to find out just what happened to Emilio.We are in contact with Palestinian officials and leaders to learn more, and to try and obtain his release.Our main concern now, however, is for his safety,” Curley said.”Emilio has spent his career representing the values that AP stands for – truthful, accurate journalism that tells all sides of the story.It is a sad development when the men and women the world rely on to bring them objective news are subject to such dangers.No cause or motive can justify such senseless action,” Curley said.Morenatti, from Jerez, Spain, has been working for the AP in Jerusalem since April 2005.As part of his job, he would periodically go to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.Previously, Morenatti covered the war in Afghanistan for the AP.He also worked for EFE, the Spanish news agency.Palestinian militants in Gaza have often kidnapped foreign journalists and aid workers.All those kidnapped have been released unharmed.In August, two Fox News journalists were kidnapped in Gaza and held for two weeks.Nampa-AP