Far from the action, debates in the West over the Israel-Hamas war are fierce. For journalists who must report on the ground, one challenge is to report the facts while avoiding personal views. Felice Friedson is managing to provide context for her reporting that has so far been acceptable to both sides.
Friedson is the founding president of The Media Line, an independent American news agency in Jerusalem. The outlet is renowned for its balanced reporting on the Middle East. Friedson has spent decades as a journalist chronicling the complexities of the region.
Her work has earned recognition from both Israeli and Palestinian colleagues, including a joint nomination for the Charles Bronfman Prize.
Friedson describes the recent shift in U.S.-Israel relations under the Trump Administration as “absolutely mind boggling.” She compares the administration’s responsiveness to Israel to the previous administration.
“When it came to releasing the big bombs that Israel needed, they didn’t get them,” she says.
The lack of sustained support during critical phases of Israel’s war against Hamas weighs heavily on her mind. “There are still 69 [hostages] remaining in Gaza, and I can’t even say that half of them are still alive. These are very core issues.”
For Friedson, understanding news from the Middle East requires context that most outside observers miss.
“You look at these two lenses of things going down that are so different,” she says, recalling a recent story involving Syrian Jews being invited to revisit their ancestral homes on the same day that thousands protested in Syria against Israel. “One where you see hope … and one where you might see a door closing.”
She believes many Americans misunderstand just how deeply intertwined U.S. and Israeli politics are. “It’s not just about how the Israeli government is going to respond … it’s very much how is the American government going to respond,” she says.
On the topic of disputed territories, she notes the importance of understanding both historical and geopolitical perspectives. “It’s biblical Israel, its original name … but what is public opinion? What do people truly understand about this?”
Friedson warns that internal security challenges within Israel are escalating. “Now there are tanks in the middle of what was called the West Bank. Why? Because there’s terrorist cells,” she explains. “That issue is actually far more of concern than even what’s going to happen between the Israelis and Ramallah.”
She also discusses the Abraham Accords and the ongoing efforts to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia. “Maybe that famous piece of word that everybody wants,” she says.
But she cautions that there’s still significant resistance, pointing to Egypt as an example. “The United States has tremendous monetary control over Egypt, so I’m actually surprised that we didn’t see more than a few thousand Gazans that were ill that [President] Sisi agreed to take.”
As for regional neighbors like Jordan and Egypt, Friedson says their reluctance to take in Palestinians stems from real concerns. “They know that many of them come from a more radical position. They don’t want more terrorists.”
She highlights the mutual benefits of the U.S.-Israel relationship, especially in defense and technology. “There’s a tremendous amount of knowledge that is exchanged,” she says. “It’s not a client relationship … it's a true partnership. Like a marriage.”
Friedson worries about the future of journalism. “The fact that journalism is at a point that we can lose it … that people are feeling this is at the core,” she says.
She runs a program bringing students to Israel to learn real-world journalism, training them to speak with Jews, Christians, and Muslims. “They figure out, how am I going to cover a story and speak to the Palestinian on the other side, even if I’m sitting in Israel, because the narratives have to all be there.”
She attributes her organization’s credibility to hard work. “There are no shortcuts. Every story has to be looked at. Editors have to spend time,” she says. “Sometimes you’re late because you waited to vet and see if that story was true and not be part of the problem.”
Many Americans, she believes, fundamentally misunderstand Israel’s reality. “Would you walk down your streets in the middle of Beverly Hills and somebody came at you with an ax? Israelis deal with these things. That’s not normal,” she says. “It became so normal that Americans are missing this in the coverage.”
Despite war and instability, Friedson sees economic resilience in Israel. “It’s incredible that Israel did not lose more economically in the tech sector,” she says. “I guarantee you in five years you’re going to see the biggest boom out of Israel than ever.”
Looking ahead, she finds the future both daunting and exhilarating. “There’s so much that’s going to change. The question is, what’s going to happen with Gaza?” she says, referencing several competing plans, including one from Egypt and another from the Trump administration. “It is extremely complicated.”
She also sees a shifting trade landscape. “There’s going to be a tremendous economic boom between Israel and India and Italy … this whole route that is now being designed for years, that’s going to change trade.”
Despite the overwhelming nature of her work, Friedson remains committed to covering the region thoroughly. “I don’t sleep,” she admits. “You have to have the finger on the pulse of what’s happening … and how it relates to the rest of the world.”
As both a chronicler and a teacher, Friedson emphasizes that journalism is a craft, not a hobby. “People wake up and they think they’re an influencer … a journalist has to be more than honest with the public,” she says. “There’s a way to learn how to write a story and how to look for facts. And you don’t do that in an instant. It takes years.”
