Helen Thomas Apologizes for Jewish Remark

Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas has apologized for a saying Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine."

Thomas, 89, made her shocking remark on May 27 during the Jewish Heritage Celebration at the White House.

When asked by Rabbi David Nesenoff of RabbiLive.com if she had “any comments on Israel,” the Hearst Newspapers columnist put her foot in her mouth by stating, “Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.” Thomas added that Palestinians “are occupied and it’s their land” and that Israelis should “go home” to Poland, Germany, America “and everywhere else.”

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Her comments drew sharp rebukes from Jewish leaders.

"Shame on Helen Thomas. She is certainly old enough to remember the Holocaust and the Second World War. She owes an apology to all victims of the Nazis," Elan Steinberg, formerly of the World Jewish Congress, told the New York Post.

Thomas has since apologized on her personal Web site:

"I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians," she wrote. "They do not reflect my heartfelt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon."