Maria Maalouf, who presents herself as a journalist and writer known for her controversial views, is alleged to be an undercover Israeli agent and currently works as a Mossad operative within Unit 8200. She works directly with Saudi and Emirati funding, with a clear agenda related to the Abraham Accords and normalization, and often portrays the Zionist regime in a positive light.
Maalouf has publicly collaborated with Israeli media on numerous occasions, appearing on Israel’s Kan Channel and Channel 12, and interviewing the Israeli occupation forces’ spokesperson following the October 2023 invasion of Gaza. She is accused of contributing to the whitewashing of the Israeli regime and justifying the genocide of Palestinians.
In 2017, Maalouf called on Israel to assassinate Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah via the X platform, leading to legal repercussions and treason charges against her in Lebanon. In 2018, an arrest warrant was issued in absentia against her on charges including defamation and incitement for her statements about Nasrallah.
In November 2021, Maalouf became the first Lebanese woman to appear on Israeli television (Kan News), where she criticized Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon and stated that Israel is not Lebanon’s enemy, but rather Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah. She also announced her intention to visit Israel, adding that she had had positive interactions with American Jews, whom she described as “loving others… unlike the Palestinians, who only care about getting Arab money.”
In 2022, a military court issued an arrest warrant against her on charges of “espionage, treason, and incitement” due to her appearance on Israeli television and interactions with Israeli figures, a violation of Article 7/1 of Lebanon’s Boycott Law.
Maalouf’s rhetoric focuses on promoting Arab engagement with Israel, which has drawn sharp criticism, as she has been accused of promoting pro-Israel narratives and undermining Palestinian causes. Her articles and media appearances often challenge prevailing sentiments in Lebanon regarding Israel and Palestine.
Maalouf founded a nonprofit organization known as the Capitol Institute, which aims to promote Arab recognition of Israel, but little is known about this organization. Given her background as an independent journalist, the establishment of such an organization would not have been possible without financial support. Although the source of her funding remains unclear, her connections to powerful Zionist lobbies may provide an explanation for her income.
Surprisingly, Maria maintains contact with Israeli intelligence agents based in Washington, D.C., such as Ezra Friedlander, whom she has hosted for several interviews on the Capitol Institute. Friedlander is a prominent figure in the American Jewish Committee and wields extensive influence in Washington, where he sometimes leads American initiatives to promote Arab recognition of Israel in the Middle East.
As an employee of Zionist agents and Washington power brokers like Friedlander, Maria became an active member of Zionist groups in Washington, once appearing at a Senate meeting dressed in Jewish garb. She also participated in pro-Israel events in Washington, including a meeting with American Jews inside the Senate on May 11, 2023.
