Helen Thomas 89, the legendary White House reporter who broke down barriers against female journalists covering politics, will retire after controversial remarks criticized by many as anti-Israel.
Hearst, her latest employer and owner of numerous media properties, including The Chronicle, on Monday announced the immediate retirement of Thomas, who will be 90 on Aug. 4.
Thomas told a rabbi at a White House event last week that Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and go back to Germany and Poland or the United States. Her comments were caught on videotape and widely distributed.
The remarks caused a furor even though she immediately apologized. Her invitation to speak at a local graduation was rescinded. Jewish groups called her remarks ignorant and insensitive and said her apology did not go far enough.
A daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Thomas did little to hide her pro-Arab views. During George W. Bush's presidency, her questions to both the president and his press secretaries were almost exclusively about the war in Iraq.
At his daily briefing, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs on Monday condemned the comments, calling them "offensive and reprehensible." Thomas, who has had a front-row seat in the briefing room for many years, was not present.
The White House Correspondents Association also issued a rare admonishment, calling her comments "indefensible."
"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 trail blazer on the White House beat," said the statement.
The national director of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, said in a statement that Thomas' apology was insufficient.
"Her suggestion that Israelis should go back to Poland and Germany is bigoted and shows a profound ignorance of history," Foxman said. "We believe Thomas needs to make a more forceful and sincere apology."
Working for United Press International, Thomas covered every president since the end of Dwight Eisenhower's years and was known for her tough questioning. She was the first woman to be an officer of the National Press Club and the first female member and president of the White House Correspondents' Association.