BREAKING NEWS

Journalist Helen Thomas retires after Israel remark flap

WASHINGTON — Longtime Washington journalist Helen Thomas abruptly retired Monday, according to her employer, Hearst News Service.
The 89-year-old Thomas, dean of the White House press corps, leaves amid a brewing controversy over remarks she made about Israel and Palestinians.
Thomas, known for her confrontational questioning, apologized for comments that were captured on video and have spread widely on the Internet. On the May 27 video, Thomas says Israelis should "get the hell out of Palestine," suggesting they go to Germany, Poland or the US.
The Hearst announcement came shortly after White House press secretary Robert Gibbs called her remarks "offensive and reprehensible."