Helen Thomas: Should she have just kept her thoughts about Israel quiet?
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Longtime White House correspondent and columnist Helen Thomas has kicked off quite a storm of criticism after her controversial response to a question for comments on Israel.
On May 27 an interviewer from asked Ms. Thomas during a Jewish Heritage Celebration at the White House, 鈥淎ny comments on Israel? We鈥檙e asking everybody today.鈥 She replied, 鈥淭ell them to get the hell out of Palestine.鈥
When the interviewer asked, 鈥淲here should they go?,鈥 she said they should 鈥済o home鈥 to Poland, Germany, the United States 鈥渁nd everywhere else.鈥
Thomas鈥檚 comments were quickly condemned across Twitter, and by White House officials and the Anti-Defamation League.
Thomas posted an apology for her comments on her own . The comments, she said "do not reflect my heart-felt 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."
What do you think? Thomas is an opinion writer, she shared her opinion. But this is an extremely sensitive subject. Would it be better if an is left unspoken? Is there anything productive that can come from this? The Anti-Defamation League says this apology didn't go far enough. Is a fuller apology needed?
UPDATE:
Helen Thomas has resigned from Hearst Newspapers.
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