Obama: Helen Thomas' Comments on Israel 'Out of Line'

(June 8) -- President Barack Obama says White House newswoman Helen Thomas made the right decision to retire after she created an uproar by saying that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine."

"The comments were offensive. It's a shame because Helen was somebody who had been a correspondent through I don't know how many presidents, was a real institution in Washington," Obama told Matt Lauer in an interview that aired this morning on NBC's "Today" show. "But I think she made the right decision. I think that those comments were out of line, and hopefully she recognizes that. "

On Monday, Hearst Newspapers announced Thomas' immediate retirement.

"Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet," Hearst said in a statement. It noted that her 90th birthday is Aug. 4.

Thomas began her career as a correspondent with United Press International in 1943. According to her website, she has covered the administrations of 10 U.S. presidents, starting with the Kennedy administration. She was the first female member of the White House Correspondents' Association and the Gridiron Club.

At the conclusion of presidential news conferences, it was her voice that announced, "Thank you, Mr. President."

In 2000, she left UPI and joined Hearst News Service as a columnist, but was still honored with a front-row seat at presidential news conferences.

The board of the White House Correspondents' Association said the incident revived the question of whether it is appropriate for an opinion columnist to occupy a prominent seat in the White House briefing room. The board will hold a special meeting Thursday to decide on the matter.

"Helen Thomas' comments were indefensible, and the White House Correspondents' Association board firmly dissociates itself from them," the board said in a statement. "Many in our profession who have known Helen for years were saddened by the comments, which were especially unfortunate in light of her role as a trailblazer on the White House beat."

During a White House commemoration of Jewish Heritage Month on May 27, Rabbi David F. Nesenoff of the website RabbiLive asked Thomas if she had any comments on Israel.

"Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine," said Thomas, who is of Lebanese descent. "Remember, these people are occupied. And it's their land. It's not German, it's not Poland." When Nesenoff asked Thomas where the Israelis should go, she said they should "go home" to Germany, Poland and the U.S.

Video of the gaffe has been widely circulated on the Internet.

Thomas apologized on her website on June 4, saying, "I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. 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."

But Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, demanded a "more sincere" apology.

"Helen Thomas' statement of regret does not go far enough," he said in a statement. "Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology for the pain her remarks have caused."