Murdoch 'Jewish press' comment stirs row
Facing accusations of anti-Semitism, media magnate apologizes for weekend tweet complaining about 'Jewish owned press being so consistently anti-Israel' in coverage of Israel-Gaza conflict
Murdoch, whose News Corporation empire includes HarperCollins publishers, Fox television, BSkyB, The Wall Street Journal and the London Times, wrote Saturday on Twitter: "Why is Jewish owned press so consistently anti-Israel in every crisis?"
Facing accusations of anti-Semitism, Murdoch backtracked on Sunday, saying he disagreed with his critics, but was sorry anyway.
"'Jewish owned press' have been sternly criticized, suggesting link to Jewish reporters. Don't see this, but apologize unreservedly," Murdoch, who is known as a strong Israel supporter, said in a new tweet.
On Monday, Britain's Guardian newspaper said Murdoch was "trying to channel the right wing's ardent support of Israel by challenging the left wing's more critical view of Israeli brinksmanship – particularly as Israel appears on the verge of another invasion of Gaza."
