An Unsavory 60 Minutes-Mossad Production

The show let Israel’s premier spy agency control the narrative in “The Pagers Plot”

OPINION

In its Dec. 22 segment on "The Pager Plot"—Israel’s spectacular sabotage operation against Hezbollah in Lebanon—the legendary Sunday news show failed professionally and ethically as an investigative news outlet. It broadcast a story that could have been written by Mossad itself—and practically was. The show featured two retired Mossad operatives—they were masked, wearing glasses and their voices were distorted—one of whom was identified as the operation's commander.

As the world learned in mid-September 2024, thousands of Hezbollah pagers blew up. The next day, hundreds more walkie-talkies exploded, some during funerals for those killed while handling the devices. The operation, bold and impressive, caused significant disruption within the ranks of the Iran-backed militias. Thousands of people were left in shock; some 3,000 were injured, and dozens were killed (mostly in Lebanon, some in Syria).

It was the largest targeted killing in the history of counterterrorism, executed with minimal collateral damage—earning widespread admiration internationally.

60 Minutes’ senior correspondent Lesley Stahl, a reputable veteran journalist with an admirable record of incisive reporting, appeared to diverge from her typically rigorous approach, however, accepting the operatives' narratives with minimal challenge or contextual scrutiny.