A passage in the novel reads:
"…the rumor is that Barbara said she would do 'anything' for the story. So someone approached Ezer Weizman, the Israeli minister of defense, and said that Ms. Walters said she would do 'anything' for the story. Apparently Mr. Weizman asked, 'Anything?'"
"Well, to make a seamy story short, when Barbara went to a cocktail party in Washington with the Israeli VIPs she was told to stick around after the party was over. She ended up with an interview in a hotel room, all night long, with the Israeli minister of defense."
According to Clash of the Gods, the Israelis wanted their version of the story out to the public and "apparently found a wonderful opportunity with Barbara Walters."
"Clash of the Gods" was written written by Jonathan Slevin and Charles Sutherland who live and work in the Washington, D.C. area and have extensive backgrounds in media and international affairs.