Israeli-born journalist Rula Jebreal has gone after MSNBC, where she was previously a contributor, for labeling her as a "Palestinian Journalist" when she appeared on a July 22 episode of "All In." In the interview, Jebreal and host Chris Hayes got into a spirited debate of her perceived view that MSNBC is biased towards Israel in their coverage of the situation in Gaza.
Jebreal also appeared on "Ronan Farrow Daily" the day prior, where her chyron was labeled as a "MSNBC contributor."
Jebreal spoke to Brian Stelter of CNN's "Reliable Sources" about the labeling by MSNBC, saying, "I felt terrible because I was hired by MSNBC and for two years I was labeled as analyst, journalist, foreign policy expert, contributor. I was never labeled a Palestinian journalist."
Also in the interview with "Reliable Sources," Jebreal asked why MSNBC would do what they did.
"I think whoever is doing this PR campaign for MSNBC needs to rethink these issues. Did I become 'Palestinian' because this way, you can describe me as emotional and as biased? And this way, can avoid the debate about who is really biased on this issue? I think they need to give these answers not to me, but to their audience," said Jebreal.
In an interview with Talking Points Memo, Jebreal spoke further on how she didn't appreciate the label of "Palestinian Journalist."
"I was never called to be hired by MSNBC because I was Palestinian. [I was hired] because of my foreign policy expertise. I talked about Egypt, I talked about Tunisia, I talked about the Arab Spring, I talked about Yemen, about Iraq, about Syria. And suddenly I become the 'Palestinian Journalist'?"
In a statement to Erik Wemple of the Washington Post, MSNBC stated, "we used the label of 'Palestinian Journalist' because it's how she self-identifies on her website," using a screenshot of her website which says, "Palestinian Journalist Author And Screenwriter" on the top of the window.
The spokeswoman for MSNBC also told Wemple, "other media outlets have also used the title," providing Wemple with a screenshot of an appearance Jebreal made on Democracy Now where the label "Palestinian Journalist" appears.
In response to MSNBC's claims, Jebreal told TPN that "the website is RulaJebreal.net. It's not RulaJebreal.PalestinianJournalist. This is not me."
"If you open my website, which is RulaJebreal.net - if you want to be accurate - open my website, RulaJebreal.net. It does not say 'Palestinian Journalist,'" said Jebreal, adding "It does not say that at all, anywhere 'Palestinian.'"
