The Dispute Index

Matt Murray

Portrait of Matt Murray
U.S. Department of State (photo by Freddie Everett)SourcePublic domain (U.S. federal government work)Used as cropped on Wikimedia Commons; no further changes.

Matt Murray is an American journalist who has been executive editor of The Washington Post since June 2024. He was editor in chief of The Wall Street Journal from 2018 to 2023. He is the author of The Father and the Son, a memoir about his father's move into monastic life.

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What DI has documented

DI has documented statements by Matt Murray on Israel, Palestine, and Press Freedom. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.

Topics in this coverage

Statements by Matt Murray

Portrait of Matt Murray

Matt Murray

Role at the time: Executive editor of The Washington Post

Condemned

Response to this claim

The facts of the confrontation near Abu Falah in which Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted remain unclear, and the investigation must establish who initiated the violence.

“To be clear: Some facts are neither in dispute nor unclear. Our photographer was clearly marked as Press. She was clearly beaten. These are not partisan or risible statements, but indisputable. We urge a thorough investigation and accountability.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Matt Murray X post replying to the Prime Minister's Office on Heidi Levine · Matt MurrayPost text
Why we used this label

The reference point is the October 16, 2026 beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine near Abu Falah, which she and other witnesses attributed to masked Israeli settlers. Murray says it is indisputable that she was marked as press and beaten and demands accountability, which condemns the beating and rejects the office's claim that its facts are unclear.

Read statementWashington Post photographer Heidi Levine is beaten near Abu Falah; Netanyahu's office says the facts are unclear
Portrait of Matt Murray

Matt Murray

Role at the time: Executive editor of The Washington Post

Condemned

Statement summary

The Post's executive editor says the paper is outraged by the unwarranted attack on Levine and urges authorities to investigate thoroughly and follow through.

“While we are relieved that Heidi has received medical care and is safe, we are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Israeli settlers attack Palestinians and Washington Post photographer in West Bank · The Washington PostFull article
Why we used this label

The reference point is the October 16, 2026 beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine near Abu Falah, which she and other witnesses attributed to masked Israeli settlers. Murray calls it an unwarranted attack that outraged the paper and asks for a thorough investigation, which condemns it.

Read statementWashington Post photographer Heidi Levine is beaten near Abu Falah; Netanyahu's office says the facts are unclear

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.