The usual questions apply. Was he staging propaganda? Sexying-up a news shot? Or just hoping to crack a Jewish skull or two?
With Reuters, you never know:
The cameraman, Imad Muhammad Intisar Boghnat, was arrested and charged as a result of violent riots in the Arab village of Bil’in, in the Modi’in region, on October 6, 2006. A videotape that the prosecution presented to the judge shows Boghnat encouraging and directing rioters in Bil’in to throw large chunks of rock at Israeli vehicles in such a way as to cause maximum damage. The accused is heard shouting, “Throw, throw!” and later, “Throw towards the little window!”
They should totally create an avatar of this guy for the Reuters bureau in Second Life. You could have him cover virtual suicide bombings. The avatar of the mufti of Jerusalem would give his virtual blessing afterwards, and then the avatar of some slackjaw from Hamas would post an op-ed wondering why Palestinians are such savages.
Give them a few more years and Hezbollah will have a bureau in Second Life too.
The good news — and there is some good news for once — is that Hezbo and its Iranian Shiite masters might have overplayed their hand, to the point where the Sunnis in the region could be thinking the unthinkable. Our enemies make mistakes too, guys, although admittedly you’d never know that from the media.
Can America capitalize on the Sunni/Shiite antagonism? Uh, no. Because America’s counterterrorist leadership are morons.
Update: According to the JPost, this guy was doing might have been doing more than just encouraging rock-throwing:
Emad Borat, a freelance cameraman for Reuters news agency and other groups, has remained in custody since he was detained while filming soldiers entering the Palestinian village of Bilin on Oct. 6, said Shai Carmeli-Pollak, a film maker.
Bilin, located near the boundary with Israel, is the scene of weekly protests against the West Bank security barrier. Pollak said Borat was beaten up inside a military jeep after his detention and needed six stitches for a gash on his face.
A military judge has ordered Borat to be released, but he remains in custody while prosecutors appeal the order. The IDF has accused Borat of throwing stones at border police while filming, Pollak said.
Update: Indymedia *hearts* Boghnat/Borat/Bornat!
