Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about the abrupt retirement of longtime White House journalist Helen Thomas this week was what she said in a brief statement after her hateful comments toward Jews blew up into controversy. Her comments, she said, "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."
We believe any rational analysis of the situation in Israel would lead to the same conclusion. Not only that, most people who live in that part of the world agree. A recent opinion poll by the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research found that 71 percent of Israelis and 57 percent of Palestinians support a two-state solution. Getting there certainly would require respect and tolerance, in addition to some compromises by both sides.
And yet the unnerving truth is that many on both sides of the issue continue to seethe with hatred, and official acts often exacerbate, rather than attempt to heal, the rifts. Thomas' statement, captured on video, that the Jews should leave Palestine and go back to where they came from spoke for many, unfortunately. This was confirmed in part by an editorial in the International Herald Tribune, which attacked the alleged hypocrisy of Americans for supporting free speech but forcing Thomas to retire. "Her choice of words may have been poor, but her views reflect the sentiments of much of the world — outside of America's borders of course," it said.
Thomas had a distinguished career as a White House journalist. She broke many barriers previously erected against female reporters and became a fixture at presidential press conferences from the days of John F. Kennedy to Barack Obama. Her strong views against Israel were well-known by other journalists, including people from this newspaper who have spoken with her in casual conversation. But free speech does not come without consequences, and Hearst was under no obligation to keep her employed.
It was particularly offensive to hear her call for Jews to go back to where they came from and to offer Poland as an example. In truth, many Jews tried to do exactly that after World War II. About 1,500 of them were murdered by people in Poland who, for whatever reason, did not want them back. But other Jews already were living in the Holy Land, where they lay claim to an ancient homeland.
For the record, we would hope that anyone making similarly hurtful comments against Palestinians would be disgraced, as well. As Thomas eloquently put it, peace will come only when all parties exhibit respect and tolerance.