Mada Center expresses its deep pleasure and satisfaction for the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, safe and sound, without bloodshed, dawn today, after the longest kidnapping of foreign journalists in Palestinian territories.
Johnston had been abducted on the 12th of last March, in Gaza City, by armed Palestinian group, the so-called Army of Islam claimed responsibility for the kidnapping on (9/5/2007), through a video tape broadcast by Al-Jazeera channel, and called for Johnston exchange with Muslim prisoners in British prisons ,on top of them Abu Qotada.
Concern has increased on the fate of Johnston in the past two weeks, after Hamas control in Gaza Strip, and threat to use force to release him, if necessary, the so-called Army of Islam threatened to kill Johnston if Hamas tried to release him by force, and then Johnston emerged, in a videotape broadcast on the Internet, with explosive belt, he was forced to wear it, by his captors, he said it will explode in any attempt to force his release.
Mada center is expressing thanks to all those who contributed to the Johnston release, and all those who worked to end his ordeal over the past months, from all sectors of Palestinian people and their civil, official, popular institutions, and political forces.
Mada call on again to pursue the kidnappers, and bring them to justice, as well as all those responsible for the kidnapping of foreign journalists, in the last three years.

Ramalla
July 4,2007