Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of "PBS Newshour," takes part in a panel discussion during the 2018 Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour in Beverly Hills, Calif., on July 31, 2018. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
PBS’ Judy Woodruff had reported that President Trump was pressuring Netanyahu to refuse ceasefire deal until after November election.
By David Rosenberg, World Israel News
A senior journalist at PBS has apologized after she claimed the former President Donald Trump had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal with the Hamas terror organization until after the November presidential election, in the fear that such a deal could boost Vice President Kamala Harris’ chances in the election.
On Monday night, PBS‘s Judy Woodruff said on air: “The reporting is that former President Trump is on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel, urging him not to cut a deal right now, because it’s believed that would help the Harris campaign.”
“So, I don’t know where—who knows whether that will come about or not, but I have to think that the Harris campaign would like for President Biden to do what presidents do, and that’s to work on that one.”
Woodruff referenced reports by Reuters and Axios – latter citing two American sources who claimed that Trump and Netanyahu discussed the ceasefire talks by phone – claims which were denied by both the Trump campaign and the Prime Minister’s Office.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office pushed back on Woodruff’s comments, telling The Jerusalem Post that the claim is a “complete lie.”
Later that day, Woodruff issued an apology and clarification via X/Twitter, writing that she had not kept up with the story, and was unaware of the responses by the Trump campaign and Netanyahu’s office.
“I want to clarify my remarks on the PBS News special on Monday night about the ongoing cease fire talks in the Middle East.”
“As I said, this was not based on my original reporting; I was referring to reports I had read, in Axios and Reuters, about former President Trump having spoken to the Israeli Prime Minister. In the live TV moment, I repeated the story because I hadn’t seen later reporting that both sides denied it. This was a mistake and I apologize for it.”
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