Press Release

ADL Accepts Rupert Murdoch Apology for Tweet about ‘Jewish-Owned Media’

New York, NY, November 19, 2012 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today accepted the apology of News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch for his Twitter message asking why the “Jewish-owned press” is “so consistently anti-Israel in every crisis.”

In a phone call and a follow-up letter of apology to ADL, Mr. Murdoch called his tweet about the news media “awkward and inappropriate.” He wrote, “I feel very strongly about the righteousness of Israeli’s cause, particularly when its citizens are under missile attack.  So I do get very upset when I see coverage that I feel is unfair and biased towards Israel.  But I should have stuck to the substance of the issue and not bring in irrelevant and incorrect ethnic matters.”

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

After speaking with Mr. Murdoch, it is clear that he deeply regretted posting his remark on Twitter and understands how his reference to “Jewish owned media” could play into the age-old anti-Semitic conspiracy theory about “Jewish control” of the news media.

We appreciate his effort to apologize, and to make clear that his remarks were an attempt to defend Israel made at a time when the Jewish state is under direct assault, and were not intended to hurt or to offend.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.