Hearst Newspapers has just released a statement announcing the immediate retirement of veteran newswoman Helen Thomas.

The news comes shortly after Thomas drew heaps of criticism for a videotaped interview in which she said Israelis should “get the hell” out of Palestine and go elsewhere, including to Poland or Germany.

The Washington Post also reported this morning that Thomas has agreed to cancel her scheduled appearance as the commencement speaker at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda.

Thomas is 89, and she should have retired a long time ago. There are zero doubts about her importance as a trailblazing female Washington correspondent in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s, but over the past decade or so, her status and relevance has been reduced to something closer to a mascot. It’s a real shame she couldn’t have bowed out in a more tasteful way, say, a decade (or two, or three) ago, instead of being forced to leave amid a weird scandal.

Full statement is below.

HELEN THOMAS ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

WASHINGTON, June 7, 2010 – Helen Thomas announced Monday that she is retiring, effective immediately.

Her decision came after her controversial comments about Israel and the Palestinians were captured on videotape and widely disseminated on the Internet.

Thomas later issued a statement: “I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians. They do not reflect my heart-felt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance. May that day come soon.”

Thomas will mark her 90th birthday on Aug. 4.