Former MSNBC contributor Rula Jebreal was not happy on Sunday about the way the network characterized her after she criticized its coverage of the conflict in the Middle East.
Speaking on MSNBC last week, Jebreal alleged that the network was "disgustingly biased" toward Israel in its coverage. Jebreal, who is Italian and Palestinian, later appeared on the network and discussed her earlier comments with Chris Hayes. Whereas she was labeled an "MSNBC contributor" the first time, however, she was called a "Palestinian journalist" the second time. MSNBC later said that its contract with Jebreal had expired the previous month.
Still, Jebreal did not think that was an excuse for the network to label her a "Palestinian journalist." She appeared on Sunday's "Reliable Sources," where she discussed her reaction to the controversy.
"I felt terrible because I was hired by MSNBC, and for two years, I was labeled as analyst, journalist, foreign policy expert, I was contributor," Jebreal said. "I was never labeled a 'Palestinian journalist.'"
She compared it to host Brian Stelter being labeled on air as a "white man" or Alan Dershowitz as "Jewish lawyer."
"Who does that?" she asked, questioning the thinking behind MSNBC's decision. Jebreal continued, "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, to their audience."