Helen Thomas Gives Odd Behar Interview: The Israelis Aren’t Semites
- Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:06am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Helen Thomas appeared on Joy Behar’s TV show last night to talk about her anti-Semitic comments from the summer telling the Jews to “get the hell out” of Palestine and “go home” to Germany and Poland. The interview was odd to say the least.
Not only did Thomas appear to double down on her comments (and blame others for “distorting” them), but she also put forth a confusing hypothesis about the Jews: if they come from outside Israel, they’re not “Semites.” Mediaite explains part of the interview:
Thomas told HLN’s Joy Behar Wednesday night “Hell no,” she doesn’t care what people think.
Behar asked if Thomas–having had time to reflect–could see anything insensitive in her remarks. Thomas said what she saw was an environment of hostility to anyone who criticizes Israel. “You say one thing about Israel and you’re off limits.”
Regrets? Only that “everybody misinterpreted it and distorted it…and I should’ve kept my mouth shut probably.”
To be clear, here is what Dictionary.com defines as a Semite:
Semite:
1. a member of any of various ancient and modern peoples originating in southwestern Asia, including the Akkadians, Canaanites, Phoenicians, Hebrews, and Arabs.
2. a Jew.
3. a member of any of the peoples descended from Shem, the eldest son of Noah.
That would seem to include Jews born in Europe.
As a side note: it’s not surprising that Thomas might double down and defend her remarks considering the video we featured earlier this week, in which Thomas suggests the U.S. is not on God’s side when it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.





















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Comments (154)
AmazonGrace
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:06pmNo one ever mentions the 2 million Palestinian refugees in “temporary” camps in Jordan since the 1967 war. The Jordanians have not let them assimilate, even after 40 plus years. And the Palestinians live in way worse conditions, as 2nd class citizens in Jordan than they do in “occupied” Israel. The East side of Palestine was annexed to the Jordanian king in the 1930′s at the same time that the west side was given to the Israelis. How come we never hear anyone demand that the Jordanian’s give back the land to the Palestinians?
Report Post »Rob_M
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:05pmGood to know only the right can be racist, or this might be considered in that category.
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:04pmHelen just needs to find a nice Jewish fella
and settle down
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:58pmShe‘s just ticked because Moses wouldn’t make a commitment when they dated….
Report Post »joesample
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:03pmHow idiotic.
Report Post »Tomr
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:01pmHelen is to beauty as Obama is to free enterprise.
Report Post »TERMLIMITSNOW
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:00pmDear Blaze, I beg of you, pleeaaaaaaaaaaaaaase get a decent message board!!! This sucks!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:50amShe says that Jews aren’t Semites and anyone with any sense knows that she is not from any known source of humankind.
Report Post »ldpeters
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:44amToday the “Joy Behar” program, tomorrow “Chris Matthews” and then THE WORLD.
IDIOT ALERT!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Libby Tarian
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:44amI have studied the Mohammaden ways since 2001. This is the Mohammedan mantra that she is spouting. They all say that Jews are not semites. They learn this in their Mosques all over the world. The Mosques teach hatred for the Jews, surprise, surprise. Mohammad beheaded Jews who would not convert to Islam. There is a good book by Martin Lings called Mohammad. He wrote it about the earliest writings of the followers of Mohammad. Mohammad was a mad man who saw spirits and they spoke to him. He had no idea what they were saying, but his lovely wife Khadijah interpreted for him. Kind of impossible since she was not there when the things spoke to him in a cave.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 10:03amSemetic…from wikipedia. I know, it’s not the end-all of sources for perfect information, but it’s usually pretty good on these types of subjects and had to do in a pinch. Here’s the link for those of you wanting to further your knowledge: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semitic
Report Post »Antknee
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:42amWhy is anyone wasting good airtime on this hateful woman????
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:56pmWhich one?
Report Post »georgiaman
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:42amHelen Thomas…….now I see an upside to the Obamacare “Death Panels”.
She should know, she was there when the Sphinx still had a nose…..though not one as impressive as hers.
Report Post »lynda1276
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 2:17pmlol
Report Post »Conservative Hippy
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:38am@moderator
nevermind… I see you reposted it… thanks.
Report Post »Rapunzel
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 8:03pmSometimes there’s a delay before your comments appear.
To my knowledge posts are not reviewed or removed unless they have been reported by another commenter.
Report Post »Conservative Hippy
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:38am@moderator
why did you delete my post in response to NEVERMIND? All I did was dispute the Palastinians claim to that area? Which was true… the Palastinians didnt own it prior to Isreals creation… it was occupied by other middle eastern countries… Who treated the palastinians worse than Isreal ever has?
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:10pm“The Palastinians didnt own it prior to Isreals creation…”
You are right, if what you mean is that there had never been an independent state called “Palestine”
(and there still isn’t!).
But there are plenty of Palestinian families who were driven from their homes in 1948 and have been encouraged by Arab leaders to believe that one day they will be able return–to Israel proper as well as the newer Israeli settlement areas.
Report Post »Nevermind
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:26am“Son_of_Liberty
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:15am
Tell the muslims to get the hell outta Isreal. It was Jewish land long before there was a mohommed.”
Based on your logic we shoudl get the hell out of Arizona and Texas since the mexicans were there first right? Or that we all should give the land back to the Native Americans instead of havbng them in reservations?
The palastinians arent responsible for the holucost and shouldnt have had their land taken as a pay back for the holucost. Maybe a section of Germany should have been given to them instead since they rwere responsable.
Report Post »Conservative Hippy
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:32amThere was no such thing as a Palinstinian before Isreal was created… they did not “own” that land prior to Isreal being created… it was owned by the other so called “countries” in the area… who treated those people way worse than Isreal ever has!.
Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:01pmThere was Zionist settlement in Palestine, and various proposals had been floated for its partition between a Jewish and and an Arab state, well before the Holocaust.
Report Post »Conservative Hippy
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:11pmJordan is the true occupier of the Arab-Palistanian state. Yet no one seems to ever mention that.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:25amA plastic surgeon’s worst nightmare. I bet she can slug down a case of Milwaukee’s Best quicker than any rusty nail biker out there.
Report Post »ilovethiscountry
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:25amShe is right. She shouldn’t have said anything.
Report Post »psst
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:23amGeez, I thought Ol’ Helen had kicked the bucket.
Report Post »Well! Someone kicked the hell out of that pail.It’s all banged up. Behar should have told her to take the pail off her head whilst on TV.
David Pasztor
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 4:32pmJoy Behar is so stupid that she is funny. Lots of entertainment! My nickname for her is “GODZILLA”
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:19amRegrets? Only that “everybody misinterpreted it and distorted it… ( Yeah, right ) and I should’ve kept my mouth shut probably.” ( No probably about it ).
Report Post »ReasonNLogic
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:17amWhat is Gwildor doing on CNN!?
Report Post »Son_of_Liberty
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:15amTell the muslims to get the hell outta Isreal. It was Jewish land long before there was a mohommed.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:45amWhere should the Christian Arabs who live in Israel go?
Report Post »Thomas Payne
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:03pmAn Arab and a Muslim are two different things.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:16pmIt was pagan land before it was Jewish, so bring back the horned altars and Baal statues!
Report Post »VRW Conspirator
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 2:16pmthe notion that Palestine belongs to the Arabs is a MYTH…
Palestine is a region defined by the ROMAN EMPIRE in the 1st century BC. it included modern day Jordan, Syria, Israel, parts of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iraq. the whole region was called Palestine on Roman maps and the inhabitants, regardless of race or religion were called Palestinians. Pilot was called the Governor of Palestine in the Bible New Testament.
Report Post »There was also no state of Israel…there was a Judea ruled by King Herod and there was Galilee ruled by his brother or cousin or something. That is why they kinda mocked Jesus by saying he was a Galileean, a lower cast of Jew…
In the Old Testament when Moses came into the promised land, the land of Abraham, Canaan, it was occupied by various peoples. Moses was told by God that the Israelites would have dominion over all the lands within the boundaries of the land promised to Abraham. This included much of present day Syria, Jordan, parts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Turkey.
I think the state of Israel established in 1946 by the UN, the USA, and Britian actually severely handicapped the Jews by only giving them back about 1/5 of the land that God had promised to Abraham. I think the Jews accepting this should have been enough for the Arab people since going by the Old Testament boundaries, the Israelites were entitled to a MUCH larger area and being good students of the Old Testament (which Muslims claim they are – saying that Jews and Christian have fallen away from true word of God) the Muslims should obey the God of Abraham.
Islesfordian
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:13amAnnnnnd the last brain synapse shuts down on this poor woman.
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:54pmCLEAR!!!!!!……..*phooomph*…….
Report Post »Its Gonna Getcha
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:12amHelen Thomas pretends to know God’s mind.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:12amLook closely, gang, this is MoDo in a couple of years.
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:51pmHillBilly-
Yer killing me here! HAHAHA
Report Post »jeckelmyhyde
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:12amWhich one is Behar
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:15amThat was good! She and Carter need to just fade away…….
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:15pmThat is a question that many will ask when Joy, Helen, Rosie O’Donnel, Anita Dunn, and Jeneanne Garafolo introduce their 2012 Nude Calender…..available soon at Barnes & Noble, Radio Shack, MSNBC Studio Headquarters, and Guantanomo Bay Detention Center in lovely downtown Cuba!!
Fun fact: The person guessing the correct number of body hairs for each lovely Calender Girl will recieve the exciting “The Making of the Progressive Chick’s 2012 Calender” DVD!! It’s loaded with exciting behind-the-scenes tidbits and commentary……Listen to Helen Thomas give an account of her life BEFORE the invention of electricity, giggle while Joy talks about being mistaken as a hair-lipped, male Mexican wrestler until her sophomore year in college, and howl out loud with laughter as Rosie exclaims to Jeneanne “Quit it!! That is NOT a tatoo!!!”. Buy YOURS today!!!………NO REFUNDS!!!!!
Report Post »leftiesaredangerous
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:58pmLol
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 6:00pmRoger that!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:11amI would bet a large sum of money that if you could ever get her alone, in a private conversation, she would admit her admiration of Hitler and lament the fact he didn’t finish the job. I’d win the bet.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:16amis there a muslim moderator @ The Blaze who keeps deleting my posts .
Report Post »One time I mentioned Burqa & my post was gone second time I said about them criminal savages & that one was deleted also .
just wondering .
Ironmaan
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:16amShe is an incredibly evil beatch. I wish this “woman” would go away.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
WILLIAM E.
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:18amI agree 100% !!
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:19amI bet she would too Gonzo. It was funny that here was a woman who in her own words should “keep her mouth shut” being interviewed by another woman who should keep her mouth shut. This Helen Thomas could not have just all of a sudden start believing this stuff. How did they cover this up for so long?
http://www.donsmithshow.com – see the socialists unite with unions video
Report Post »Danglinbags
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:21amOh my eyes cant handle this secksie overload. They are deleting my posts, too. The blaze moderators will scrub any comment about muslims and how attractve the dudes and ladies on the left are. The moderators are envious muslims.
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:31amHey, If Israelis are not semites then this witch is not an anti-semite. Her argument is understandable because she is trying to defend her anti-semitic status.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:32amProperly speaking, a Semite is anyone whose native language belongs to the Semitic language family, which includes Arabic and Hebrew as well as various dead languages such as Akkadian.
“Semitic” is not, repeat not, a racial designation.
Thomas probably believes in the discredited theory that Ashkenazi Jews are descendants of the Central Asian Turkic Khazars, whose Khans converted to Judaism in the 7th century CE, and that since many of the founders of modern Israel were Ashkenazim from Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic, they aren’t really Semites, and have no claim to any part of the Middle East.
Report Post »quiet little lamb
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:37amgood god joy, give her a pass why doncha. but o’reilly says MUSLIM and you storm off!
Lantern
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:39amWhy do they keep interviewing this hag? To reinforce their own opinion of Israel?
Report Post »Right, she doesn’t care what other people say, but continues to deflect the question by blaming the environment of hostility and saying she “paid the price.” and that everyone else mis-interpreted her..
They are taking someone else’s land? I don‘t think this woman understands the concept of God’s children, the tribe of Jews.
The onset of Alzheimers?
She DOES look a lot like the witch on Snow White :-)
Gonzo
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:39amI hope the blaze moderators will scrub that comment as well Danglinbags. After seeing your attempt to spell sexy, I’m starting to understand why you progressives are always demanding more money for education.
Report Post »hud
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:55amWhy do they put hasbeen, nutso whackos on TV?
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:56amShe should of just mentioned the Rothchilds hahaha
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:58amExcellent points DRAKO
Excellent point LAMB
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:02pmSo if I convert to Judaism does that make me a Semite? A Jew? Or is one born a Jew?
techengineer11
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:05pmLloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 11:32am
Properly speaking, a Semite is anyone whose native language belongs to the Semitic language family, which includes Arabic and Hebrew as well as various dead languages such as Akkadian.
“Semitic” is not, repeat not, a racial designation.
So if I were born in eastern Russia and learned the Semitic language as a kid would I then be a Semite?
Report Post »natstew
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:12pmI‘d bet you’re right, GONZO.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:14pm@Techengineer:
Yes, if the Semitic language in question was your first language.
But your language is independent of your genetic makeup.
Report Post »AProudConservative
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:19pmLet’s get rid of her. PUT PRESSURE ON HER EMPLOYEER, The Falls Church Toilet-Paper. GO TO: FCNP.COM and tell them what you REALLY think about this anti-semetic biggot.
Report Post »leftiesaredangerous
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:41pmEven Joy Blowhard was taken aback by the Wicked Wench of the West’s attitude toward the Jews.
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 12:48pmI watched that interview and for her age, she still have a lot of snap about her – but I still do not believe that she believes that what she said that caused her trouble was anti-semitic. Strange lady!!
Report Post »http://wp.me/sYLB7-why
pajamash
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 1:02pmHow was this woman able to be in Washington for so many years, through so many adminstrations, without her hate of Isreal coming to light?
I’m also tired of the belief that a person can be a scum bag but their lifes achievements in their field of expertice should be exemplified. Pete Rose should not be held up due to his gambling. Ty Cobb should not be held up since he was a vile man. Helen Thomas should not be held up because there is a race of people she hates.
Your personality and your beliefs are part of who you are and should be weighed in relation to your achievements. Hitler turned an economy around in Germany. If Helen Thomas is right about separating one aspect of a person from their achievements should we then say that Hitler was a great man. HELL NO!
Report Post »docgreen
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 1:03pmRobert-CA
Report Post »Sometimes they don’t post right away, and sometimes you have to scroll up the post to see them!….
CaptGregg
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 1:29pmOne can only hope that every one of the 72 virgins the suicide bombers expect to be waiting for them look exactly like Helen Thomas.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 1:51pm@ Robert CA
Report Post »I, too, have had posts and comments vaporize. You are not alone.
abc
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 2:23pmIt would be easier to sympathize with your doubling-down second post on Helen Thomas if you didn’t systematically remove comments from people who express a differing point of view from the standard right-wing, defend-Israel-blindly-and-at-all-costs… Thomas‘ main concern is that there is no tolerance for criticism of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, and your censorship of those views proves her point. You can focus on insensitive words, but the main criticism remains.
Report Post »HillBillySam1
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 2:42pmABC, does that kinda parallel the criticism that pro-life people have regarding abortion?? If you speak out against abortion you are labled a “woman-hater” and a person who would deny a basic, fundamental Constitutional RIGHT to any and all American women by the Leftist/Progressive get-the-woman-to-any-of-the-Abortion-Industrial-Complex’s-baby-killing-mills-and-pay-for-it-with-taxpayer-money-if-they-don’t-want-topay-for-it-themselves………
Report Post »ILUVJESUS
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 2:47pmYeah.
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 3:16pmleftiesaredangerous: Maybe that’s because Joyblowhard as you refer to her is Jewish?
If you see a Commie on TV assume Jewish until prove otherwise.. You know as I was researching Obama’s economic team in his first year I found out that everyone on the team was Jewish with the exception of Romer who was married to a Jew and I originally thought Larry Summers may have not been Jewish… But the research led me to the truth. Larry forsook his real name of Samuelson in order to become a Summers.
Moral of the story: Non Jews are not capable of providing any economic advice in DC and beware of the name changers!
Putting the light on the truth is not anti Semetic is it? Please don’t call me anti Semetic.
Report Post »abc
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 3:36pmHillbilly, I’m not sure. I’ve never seen a liberal blog censor pro-life comments. They usually are just responded to with counter-arguments. It could have happened, but I’ve never seen it. Unlike Malkin or Brietbart, you can post on the HuffPo without pre-clearance as a like-minded ideologue, and once on, they do not pull comments like this site does.
Engineer, Joy Behar is an Italian-American and a Catholic. She is not Jewish.
Report Post »Uriel
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 3:37pmI’m afraid Drakko is incorrect. His comment tries to define a Semite as someone who speaks a “Semitic” language. What, then, is a “Semitic” language? Well, a language spoken by a Semite, of course. It’s a circular definition. A “Semite” is any descendant of Shem. A Hamite is any descendant of Ham. A Japhethite is any descendant of Japheth. Broadly, this originally meant that Middle-Easterners were generally Semites; Africans were generally Hamites; and Europeans were generally Japhethites. “Semitic” is an adjective DERIVED FROM the noun “Semite”; NOT the other way around. Linguists used the existing designation of “Semites” to create a grouping of the languages spoken by those peoples. Technically, Helen Thomas is NOT an “Anti-Semite”. She herself is a Semite. What that ancient shrew IS is a Jew-Hating, America-loathing, commie harridan.
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 3:45pm@ ABC the huff-n-puff doesnt censor??????? what reality do you live in????
ther “ moderators” are known for their selective application of free speech, just as you are known for being a moron
Report Post »techengineer11
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 4:21pmabc: She is without question Jewish. I‘ve heard her say it several times and I don’t even watch her show.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 4:25pmI agree Gonzo. BTW, doesn’t Helen Tomas resemble Gonzo from the Muppets?
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 5:01pmThis “lady” should be sent to spend a year reporting the news in Israel. She should be allowed no contact with any Palestineans while on her assignment.
“The trouble with her is that she lacks the power of conversation but not the power of speech.”
Report Post »George Bernard Shaw
abc
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:04pmEngineer,
You would think a Google search was timeconsuming…
I just checked multiple biographies on her and they all note that she was born Catholic and Italian-American. She also has noted in interviews that she is often mistaken for being Jewish. Go look it up before insisting:
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Joy-Behar/biography/
Report Post »GEETAR
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:10pmI wonder if that old bag has ever watched the Eisenhouer films of what they did to the jews.The land where Isreal is now was given to the Jews by God its in the Bible.Old pruneface just hates them because she is of Arabic background.
Report Post »Jabber
Posted on February 17, 2011 at 7:49pmHAHAHAHHAHahahahahahahahahahahahaha…..(inhale)…hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Watching Queen Behar try to expose the cruel and insensitive punishment dished out to this poor little ol lady, only to realize that Ms. Thomas truly is either bat-^%$# crazy-senile, OR that someone’s bridge really is missing its bigoted, nasty little troll….made my day! The more she tried to help her, the more crap came spilling out. It was kinda like the “I Love Lucy” episode where Lucy loses control of the candy machine….
This was a PRICELESS television moment. And one I‘d never have seen or heard if it wasn’t for The Blaze.
Report Post »One1
Posted on February 18, 2011 at 3:42amWould love to see some footage of Joy‘s reaction to Mel Gibson’s anti-semetic rant. Bet she wouldn’t give him a pass.
Report Post »aint it grand
Posted on February 21, 2011 at 9:57pmI love the way these people speak their heart first, then say they were taken out of context later. She is one of the few libs though who did not claim that she “mis-spoke”, a term coined well by the Clintons and used by every lib politician since. No, she said it and meant it. She said what’s felt from the top down in lib culture & politics – “Get those lousy Jews out of Palestine.”
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