Newsmax's Junket To Israel

Newsmax led an Israel trip that was largely devoted to peddling pro-Israel narratives -- and a Media Research Center writer tagged along to help generate that propaganda.

Oct 15, 2025

In August, Newsmax went on a junket to Israel that was largely self-promotional through latching on to right-wing narratives about the country, as hyped in an Aug. 11 article:

Newsmax is set to host its fourth annual Fourth of July celebration in Israel Wednesday, Aug. 13, bringing together an elite gathering of political, business, and media leaders.
The high-profile event takes place at at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem, which has become a highlight of the summer social calendar in Israel.
Newsmax holds this reception each year to celebrate the enduring friendship and shared democratic values between the United States and Israel.
[…]
The Fourth of July event in Jerusalem is more than a holiday party — it is a symbolic expression of the close alliance between the United States and Israel.
Attendees will include senior government officials, ambassadors, leading business executives, influential journalists, and thought leaders.
The evening will feature tributes to the democratic ideals, innovation, and resilience that both nations champion on the world stage.

The article then reminded us that this was, in fact, a self-promotional junket:

Newsmax went public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: NMAX) earlier this year and has become a major U.S. news brand in recent years, according to a Reuters Institute study.
Known for its robust political coverage, in-depth interviews, and live breaking news, Newsmax has become a trusted source for millions worldwide, including in the Middle East.
Its international growth reflects the network’s commitment to delivering diverse perspectives and covering stories of significance to both American and global audiences.

The centerpiece was a speech given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gushed over (with a large helping of self-promotion and sucking up) in an Aug. 13 article:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a forceful and wide-ranging speech Wednesday at Newsmax’s fourth annual celebration in Jerusalem, declaring that “most Americans” reject Hamas’ “lies” and stand with Israel in its ongoing battle against what he called “the barbarians at the gate.”
The prime minister’s appearance was at a critical moment as Israel appears to be on the brink of a major military action in Gaza.
Broadcast live across the Newsmax network, Netanyahu used the extended address to link Israel’s current security struggle with the shared values and historical alliances between Israel and the United States.
Major Israeli and U.S. political, media, and business leaders joined the celebration, including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Alan Dershowitz, and Malcolm Hoenlein with the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.
The prime minister opened his speech praising Newsmax for its coverage.
“Thank you, Newsmax, for helping us on the eighth-front war: seven fronts against Iran and its proxies, the eighth front — the battle for truth,” Netanyahu said.
“And, Newsmax, you have let the truth circle the globe against the lies that have circled it before and continue to do so.
“There’s only one way to beat the lies, and that’s with the truth.”
Netanyahu was introduced by Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, who delivered a strong introduction, framing the prime minister’s leadership as historic.
“It is my profound honor to introduce a man whose life’s work has been the defense of his people, the preservation of freedom, and the unflinching pursuit of truth,” Ruddy began.
Ruddy praised Netanyahu for confronting “two of the gravest threats to Israel’s security”: the growing danger of Iran’s nuclear program and the persistent menace from Gaza.
He compared Netanyahu’s actions to Winston Churchill’s stand against appeasement before World War II.

This was followed by an interview with Netanyahu conducted by Newsmax host Carl Higbie, which Newsmax squeezed three articles out of:

Newsmax also made sure to devote an article to how Netanyahu’s speech was received, making sure to highlight his promotion of Newsmax:

Y Net called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at Newsmax’s fourth annual Fourth of July celebration Wednesday “fiery.”
Netanyahu’s office posted it to X, and RT did, too. One of the mission participants, Cheryl Chumley, posted a photo of the Newsmax wreath at Nova field in Israel, the site of Hamas atrocities.
Netanyahu’s appearance at the Newsmax celebration, where he declared that most Americans reject Hamas’ lies and recognize that Israel stands for the same values as America, has grabbed headlines and international attention.
He also thanked Newsmax for its role in countering misinformation.
“There’s one way to defeat lies and that’s the truth. Thank you for standing for the truth,” he said. “You’ve helped in the war on the seventh front against Iran and the eighth: the war for truth. You’ve led the truth globally against persistent lies.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry called Newsmax one of the leading media networks in the United States.

It’s odd that Newsmax would hype how RT picked up Netanyahu’s speech, given that it’s a Russian propaganda outlet that was recently caught covertly funding right-wing influencers in America.

Carl Higbie in Israel

A key part of Newsmax’s Israel junket involved TV host Carl Higbie doing his show that week from Israel. Newsmax’s enthusiasm for serving up propaganda for Israel was featured in an Aug. 11 article by the apparently unironically named Charlie McCarthy, in which it was stated that “Higbie, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, will be in Israel to provide a close-up look on how Israeli officials are protecting their fellow citizens who live amid constant threats from neighboring countries,” adding:

Included among Higbie’s scheduled stops are tours of Israel’s weapons and aerospace industries, as well as trips to the West Bank and towns that border Syria and Jordan. He’ll speak with local residents to learn their thoughts on such issues as the war in Gaza and talk of a Palestinian homeland.
Higbie also will tour the Knesset in Jerusalem and interview Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana.

One show featured a live hit from Gaza filled with more pro-Israel propaganda, as detailed in an Aug. 12 article by Mark Swanson:

From the edge of the Gaza war zone, Newsmax host Carl Higbie delivered a stark assessment of the United States’ role in the rise of the Hamas terrorist group, which continues to wage terror on its own people by disrupting and hijacking humanitarian aid efforts.
Further, the host of “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE,” on special assignment in the Middle East, derailed the narrative that Israel is the cause of mass starvation in Gaza, adding that the only people starving inside Gaza are the remaining hostages. And the culprits: Hamas.
Speaking against the backdrop of Israeli artillery and airstrikes, Higbie said billions of dollars sent to Gaza through U.S. Agency for International Development and other programs — stretching back to the Clinton administration — allowed Hamas to come to power and strengthen its grip on the territory. That funding, he charged, came “under the guise” of humanitarian relief for Palestinians “playing victim” while Iran poured in weapons, training, and other support.
[…]
Higbie also corrected the narrative about humanitarian aid to Gazans. He stressed that aid continues to enter Gaza daily. From his vantage point at the border, he described watching Israeli trucks transfer shipments to Arab drivers headed into the territory.
“The actual aid that’s intended for the real victims — the people who don’t have any means to flee — Hamas steals most of it,” he said. “Once it gets to the intended recipients, they tell people not to take it in the streets at gunpoint.”
While much of the world views Gaza through the lens of humanitarian crisis, Higbie delivered a blunt assessment: “The only people starving in Gaza right now are the hostages.”

Higbie also went on to huff about elections after Israel withdrew from Gaza:

Shortly after that, elections were held in Gaza, and Hamas was overwhelmingly elected by the people of Gaza. So when you tell me, “Oh, poor people in Gaza are suffering,” they elected the people who are running that region right now, so my sympathy for these people is pretty limited. It’s their own fault.

As we’ve documented, Hamas won that election in 2006 by portraying itself as a more moderate alternative to the faction then in power, Fatah, which proved to be corrupt. Hamas then became more radical and has not held an election since.

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It was not mentioned by either Higbie or Swanson that foreign reporters are not allowed to enter Gaza to cover events there, so he cannot possibly know for sure that “The only people starving in Gaza right now are the hostages” — he’s just repeating what he was told to say. Indeed, it was clear from a shot at the beginning of the segment that Higbie was escorted to the Gaza border by Israeli troops, so he obviously had to make sure he stayed on the proper narrative.

Higbie got a interview with Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu, but his week was also filled with more pro-Israeli shills, as detailed in summary articles:

On the home front, other Newsmax shows were enforcing the pro-Israel agenda that week:

Meanwhile, Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy served up his own pro-Israel operation, as detailed in an Aug. 13 article by McCarthy:

Israel “will not allow” its land to be used for the creation of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Wednesday.
While sitting next to Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, who led a delegation of journalists, Sa’ar urged countries promoting a two-state solution to create a Palestinian homeland “within their own territory.”

There was no indication that Ruddy, Higbie or any other Newsmax employee asked any questions of these Israel officials that were remotely challenging during the junket.

Newsmax columnists helped out too. An Aug. 13 column by Ziva Dahl cheered how “In under two years, Israel has shifted from a defensive posture to one of strategic dominance in the Mideast — a transformation forged in crisis after the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of Israelis and others in southern Israel.”

An MRC writer tags along

Newsmax never revealed who tagged along on the Israel trip — but we know of one eager propagandist who took part: the Media Research Center’s Joseph Vazquez.

After 10 days of silence while he was on the junket, he cranked out a couple posts from it after he got back. First up was an Aug. 19 post dutifully parroting one official spouting right-wing anti-media talking points:

Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce (OJC) CEO Duvi Honig unloaded on the American leftist media for repeatedly behaving as apologists for Hamas and jihadi radicals seeking to smear the state of Israel. He didn’t mince any words.
The OJC is a “global umbrella” organization that “unites all factions of the global Jewish community’s business sphere – making an immense contribution to both the community’s businesses and professionals, and the business world at large,” according to its website.
Honig spoke to me at the iconic King David Hotel in Jerusalem during my trip with Newsmax’s delegation to Israel.
When asked about his take on how outlets like The New York Times and CNN have continued to propagate falsehoods and gaslighting that benefitted Hamas’s anti-Semitic agenda, Honig answered in two words, “Hate blinds.”
[…]
I asked Honig what would be his message to the editors and leadership of America’s top newsrooms that continue to make the situation in Gaza worse by elevating Hamas’s talking points and fueling anti-Israel hatred around the world. He was very blunt: “There’s a big saying: Ignorance is bliss. In this case, ignorance is NOT bliss. Ignorance is danger. There’s so much information out there. If you’re looking for the truth, all you have to do is look for the truth.”

There is no evidence that Vazquez bothered to fact-check anything Honig said — after all, he’s a propagandist, not an actual reporter.

The next day, Vazquez served up more pro-Israel propaganda — with the help of an anonymous person:

The servicemen and women of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are no strangers to the incessant haranguing they endure at the hands of the global media doing Hamas and Hezbollah’s dirty propaganda work for them. One soldier decided to make his voice heard and hold the anti-Israel media to account.
A member of the newly created elite rapid response reserve Pereh (“Wild”) unit in the Golan Heights was one of four who talked with the recent Newsmax delegation to Israel, which included MRC staff. The highly trained unit made up of locals “was established as part of the process of improving the operational response in the Golan Heights, with an emphasis on creating a division-level force multiplier,” according to Jewish News Syndicate.
One of the questions posed to us by the servicemen was about the state of the information war against them, which we admitted was still decidedly hostile and vitriolic. I asked the servicemen if they had a message they wanted to share to the media continuing to falsely smear them as the antagonists in the ongoing war in both the North and the South.
The service member who answered — who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his identity — was very blunt in pointing out the extent of the damage that the global media and international leaders are doing not just to the Jewish people, but to the Palestinians in Gaza they claim to care about. “Almost every move that you’re seeing — especially on an international level — of ‘We’re going to recognize a Palestinian state’ and stuff like that,” said the soldier, “That act emboldens Hamas to say, ‘Oh great, this is a win for us….Any opportunity that they have to twist the truth, change the truth — whatever it is — will be taken and people are eating it up.’

Vazquez’s employer has long denounced the use of anonymous sources (when it suits its right-wing narratives, anyway), making Vazquez’s use of it more than a little ironic.

Also note that Vazquez admitted it was not just himself but also “MRC staff” who tagged along. How many people from the MRC went on the junket? Who paid for their airfare and lodging? A trip halfway around the world is not inexpensive, after all. MRC staffers have been making increased appearances on Newsmax’s TV channel as of late, as well as promoting the channel — was that a factor on compensation and participation?

Vazquez cranked out another propaganda piece in an Aug. 26 post:

The leader of a Druze village in the Golan Heights spoke out against the efforts by the world media and the left to dismiss the story of the recent slaughter and raping of his people’s kin in Syria by radical Islamic terrorists and Syrian government forces.
During the Newsmax delegation to Israel, we visited the Ein Qiniyye village on the southern foothills of Mount Hermon, and spoke with Druze mayor Wael Moghrabi about the plight of the Druze people.
Not only did he praise Israel for intervening in Syria to halt the carnage through a bevy of airstrikes, but he emphasized that the attempts by Islamists to exterminate his people underscore why the media and the left whitewashing the story is nothing short of barbaric: “Just like the Nazis in the past, their goal is one: They want to eradicate the Druze community and then they want to eradicate Israel.” He continued, offering up a strong warning to the world media: “They will come with tens of thousands of jihadis to the border with Israel and they will try to eliminate us.”

Vazquez added: “MRC Business decided to use the opportunity with the Ein Qiniyye mayor to tell the Druze story that the world media was ignoring.” What, exactly, does this story have to do with anything related with MRC Business? Sounds like Vazquez is trying to manufacture a justification for peddling his propaganda.

An anonymously written Sept. 3 post summarized the junket:

The Media Research Center was represented in a major Newsmax delegation to Israel hosted by the globally recognized faith-based group Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce to show solidarity with the Jewish State against the anti-Semitic propaganda by the world media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the delegation during a keynote speech, and U.S. President Donald Trump later affirmed its importance.
Everywhere we went, the message from the people on the ground and in government was the same: The global media are lying about Israel as they nefariously attempt to paint the Jewish State as the real antagonist of a war that murderous terrorists started. The evidence we witnessed on the field confirms this. At the Newsmax July 4th Celebration Gala for U.S. journalists, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce guest Netanyahu stated that there were “seven fronts” Israel was fighting against global terror sponsor “Iran and its proxies.” However, said Netanyahu, there’s an “eighth front, the battle for truth. And Newsmax, you have let the truth circle the globe against the lies.”
Daily Caller White House correspondent Reagan Reese, who was part of the Newsmax delegation, recently sat down with Trump upon her return during an exclusive interview, where the topic of Israel was discussed.
[…]
What was accomplished in the week-long delegation (Aug. 10 – Aug. 15) was nothing short of exemplary. Not only did the delegates — which featured prominent figures like Harvard Law School Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz and former CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein — tour the major Christian and Jewish holy sites around Jerusalem, but MRC and its allies were given access to on-the-ground information by IDF leaders such as the Hatzerim Airbase Commander, and Israeli government figures such as President Isaac Herzog, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa’ar regarding the continuing warfare with terrorist groups Hezbollah and Hamas.

But if the MRC is so proud of having taken part in this junket, why did the author of this post choose to remain anonymous? It’s as if someone has something to hide. Still, our anonymous author made sure to gush that “Honig and MRC Business Associate Editor Joseph Vazquez immediately struck up a friendship during the trip.”

Did you write this, Joe? If so, why are you ashamed to put your name on it?

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