Following a videotaped threat by ISIS to kill Jordanian pilot Lt. Muath al-Kasaesbeh and Japanese hostage Kenji Goto within 24 hours if Sajida al-Rishawi, a female terrorist involved in the attacks on Amman in November 2005; the Jordanian government has now offered to release al-Rishawi in exchange for al-Kasaesbeh. Lt. al-Kasaebeh was captured by ISIS in December when his plane was shot down in Syria.
The Jordanians made no mention was made of Goto. When ISIS executed Goto’s countryman Haruna Yukawa over the weekend it indicated it would spare Goto’s life if al-Rishawi was released. But it appears ISIS decided to up the ante by threatening to kill al-Kasaesbeh and Jordan has taken the bait. Should this deal go through and Goto isn’t a part of it one must wonder if Japan will make ISIS an offer it won’t refuse.
Writing in The Telegraph, Con Coughlin warns, “For if Jordan is prepared to do a deal over a captive, the kidnappers will be encouraged to believe that many other countries will also be prepared to make concessions if their citizens are taken hostage by Isil, thereby encouraging Isil to carry out more kidnappings in future.”