World

DIGEST

Journalist
Stirs Outrage

Helen Thomas quits after
anti-Israel, anti-Jewish outburst.

Beginning June 1, this will be our office...

Wayne State University in Detroit. The
WSU Department of Communication's
Journalism Area presents each year the
eteran White
Helen Thomas Spirit of Diversity Awards,
House cor-
which include honors for journalists and
respondent
scholarships for students. She often has
Helen Thomas has
appeared at the presentations, regaling
called it quits after
students with her presidential experiences
saying that Jews
should "get the hell out Helen Thomas going back to John Kennedy.
Will WSU reconsider the awards now?
of Palestine."
Ben Burns, director of the Journalism
Thomas, who gained fame as a
Area, told the Detroit Free Press: "There
United Press International correspon-
have been folks already who have asked
dent, quit her job with Hearst News
about it."
Service in the wake of mounting out-
"How disappointing to see Ms. Thomas
rage over her assertion that Israeli Jews
end her career this way," Anti-Defamation
should "return" to Poland, Germany
League/Michigan Region Executive
and the United States.
Director Betsy Kellman told the JN
"Helen Thomas announced Monday
Tuesday. "She forged an early career that
that she is retiring, effective immedi-
women can be proud of. But her remarks,
ately," said a statement issued Monday
although seemingly off the cuff, were
by Hearst. "Her decision came after her
deeply anti-Semitic. She must have always
controversial comments about Israel
felt this way and was just asked the ques-
and the Palestinians were captured on
tion at the right time to scratch the surface
videotape and widely disseminated on
to generate this response.
the Internet." She joined Hearst in 2000
"As a proud alumna of Wayne State's
after 57 years at UPI.
graduate
school, I personally weigh in for
Thomas, 89, was asked by Rabbi David
them
to
reconsider
any diversity honor
Nesenoff of RabbiLive.com on May 27 if
that
was
named
after
Helen Thomas. She
she had "any comments on Israel."
is
not
a
worthy
role
model."
"Tell them to get the hell out of
On its website Sunday, Hamas, the
Palestine she said. Her comments pre-
Palestinian
Arab terrorist organization,
ceded by several days the recent strife
praised
Thomas'
remarks.
over a Gaza-bound flotilla.
While
B'nai
B'rith
International feels that
Thomas has been reporting from the
Thomas
made
the
right
decision in step-
While House since 1960 and was con-
ping
down
from
her
journalism
post, it still
sidered the doyenne of the Washington
hopes
that
she
will
make
a
full
apology
for
press corps.
her
deeply
offensive
comments
about
Israel
After Thomas said that Jews should
and the Jewish people. "Thomas' comments
get out of Palestine, Nesenoff, who was
are contemptible BBI President Dennis
attending the first Jewish American
Glick said. "Her distortion of historical
Heritage Month event at the White
reality is astonishing. Her call for Jews to
House, asked her where Jews should go.
return to Poland and Germany — site
"Go home Thomas said. Asked to
of the worst genocide in modern history
elaborate, she said, "Poland, Germany
— is beyond offensive."
and America, and everywhere else."
Glick said the Palestinians have repeat-
Nesenoff did not post his video to
edly rejected a two-state solution and
his website, RabbiLIVE.com , until last
week. Subsequent to its release a number have answered Israel's peace concessions
with rocket and mortar attacks. "None of
of Jewish groups and figures asked for
Thomas' removal, if not from Hearst as a these facts factor into Thomas' reality,' he
said.
columnist then from her front-row cen-
Zionist Organization of America
ter perch in the White House press room.
President Morton Klein said, "This is not
Thomas has since apologized for
a matter of mere criticism of Israel, which
the comment, but some critics said the
people are free to exercise, but of foster-
apology was evasive. "I deeply regret
my comments I made last week regard- ing hatred against Jews." He cited Thomas'
"unvarnished bigotry" and said she has
ing the Israelis and the Palestinians,"
made it clear she cannot "report with any
said the apology posted on her website.
"They do not reflect my heart-felt belief semblance of objectivity."
"Helen Thomas would certainly con-
that peace will come to the Middle East
demn and reject anyone who would
only when all parties recognize the
have tried to tell her parents, who were
need for mutual respect and tolerance.
Lebanese, that they should go back to
May that day come soon."
Lebanon. She would not tolerate it if
Thomas, 89, a Winchester, Ky.,
someone told her that, since she is of
native, is the daughter of Lebanese
Lebanese ethnicity, she should go back to
immigrants to the United States. She
Lebanon."
is a 1942 graduate of what is now

Washington/JTA

V

❑

28

June 10 . 2010

