American Student Genius released by Palestinian Terrorist Kidnappers

It's been a weekend roundup of winners. First, there was the love-struck teenage blogger from Michigan who travelled to Jordan to meet her 25 year old Palestinian blogger boyfriend from Jericho.

Then, when one wonders how to top that -- this comes hot on its heels:

An American exchange student at the Hebrew University, Benjamin Bright-Fishbein decided to wallow in some local culture in Shechem (Nablus) and experience the ambiance of a Palestinian coffee shop when he was rudely kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists.

The group claiming responsibility was that of the Fatah-affiliated Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades. (Remember, Fatah are our FRIENDS...Hamas bad, Fatah good).

It appeared that his abductors agreed to release Fishbein because he was an American who did not hold Israeli citizenship.

Hailing from the Bronx, Benjamin Bright-Fishbein graduated Horace Mann High School in 2003, continuing on to Brown University, where he is majoring in Political Science and Anthropology. From August-December 2005, he studied at the American University in Cairo before moving across the Canal for another semester abroad, this one at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Bright-Fishbein also has an extensive background in theater and writing. During high school, he was heavily involved with his school's theater company as Technical Director. At Brown, he wrote opinion columns for the Brown Daily Herald as well as contributing to the "Brown Daily Squeal," a political blog on campus.

His interests include "acting, writing inflammatory columns in the midst of a homogenous political culture, and being the guy with the multi-tool at the exact right moment." (Jpost)

And to think, he almost won the prestigious Rachel Corrie medal of bravery.

Jerk.



Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael