CBS veteran Lesley Stahl nearly quit after editorial dispute over Israeli settler violence report

Lesley Stahl, an 84-year-old correspondent who has worked for 60 Minutes for 35 years, said she was close to quitting after a heated editorial review of a report on Palestinians confronting Israeli settlers. The segment, produced by foreign correspondent Holly Williams, showed a group of Palestinians attempting to reach their property when they were violently confronted by settlers. CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and deputy managing editor Charles Forelle provided extensive notes, and Weiss became “very, very hands-on,” according to sources.

Stahl pushed back against the broad suggestions, and an “aggressive back-and-forth” emerged after Forelle proposed delaying the broadcast. Stahl insisted on airing the piece on Sunday, and the segment was ultimately shown, though editorial screenings continued into the following day. One source said the intense reviews left staff uncertain about the broadcast schedule.

The dispute mirrors a prior clash involving Weiss and former 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi over a segment on El Salvador’s CECOT prison, which was pulled from the schedule. Weiss, appointed to lead CBS News in October 2025 after her acquisition of The Free Press, has faced criticism for perceived bias toward the Trump administration and the Israeli government.

A CBS spokesperson said the segment underwent fewer edits than typical 60 Minutes pieces, describing the claim of a “ludicrous, twisted narrative” as inaccurate. The Independent sought comment from CBS News.

The incident follows reports that network leaders intervened in coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, including a decision to omit the Gaza war death toll from the broadcast. Williams expressed frustration with the editing process and considered her future at the network.