Israel (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) February 06, 2026 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Jeffrey Epstein’s documented ties to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak demonstrate that Epstein worked against Israel’s interests rather than in its favour. Netanyahu made the remarks amid ongoing discussions about Epstein’s network and its implications for Israeli figures. The statement revives scrutiny over Barak’s multiple visits to Epstein’s properties following Epstein’s 2008 conviction for sex crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly asserted that the close relationship between the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak proves Epstein operated against Israel’s interests. Netanyahu delivered these comments in a recent interview, emphasising documented meetings and financial links as evidence. The remarks come years after Epstein’s 2019 death in a New York jail cell while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
In a direct statement on the matter, Netanyahu elaborated on his position via his official X account. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in X post,
“Jeffrey Epstein's unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn't suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite. Stuck on his election loss from over two decades ago, Barak has for years obsessively attempted to undermine Israeli democracy by working with the anti-Zionist radical left in failed attempts to overthrow the elected Israeli government. Barak's personal fixation led him to engage in activities publicly and behind the scenes to undermine the government of Israel, including fueling mass protest movements, fomenting unrest and feeding false media narratives.”
Netanyahu specifically highlighted Barak’s frequent visits to Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse and receipt of funds from an Epstein-linked foundation. “These ties show he worked against Israel, not for it,” Netanyahu said, according to reports from Israeli media outlets. Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and defence minister until 2013, has acknowledged over 30 visits to Epstein’s properties between 2013 and 2017 but denied any involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.
Background on Epstein-Barak Interactions
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, maintained connections with high-profile figures across politics, business, and academia. Ehud Barak’s association drew particular attention after Epstein’s arrest in 2019. Flight logs from Epstein’s private jet, dubbed the “Lolita Express,” do not list Barak as a passenger, but photographs and visitor records confirm Barak’s presence at Epstein’s New York residence.
In 2019, The Daily Beast reported Barak entering Epstein’s townhouse on multiple occasions, sometimes with young women nearby, though Barak described the visits as business-related. Barak received $2.3 million from the Wexner Foundation, connected to Epstein associate Leslie Wexner, between 2013 and 2015 for unspecified “research” purposes. Barak has stated he severed ties with Epstein after learning of the 2008 Florida plea deal, in which Epstein served 13 months for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Israeli outlet Haaretz documented Barak’s 2016 stay at Epstein’s townhouse, where Epstein reportedly offered to fund a Barak-backed political party. Barak rejected the offer, according to his spokesperson. Netanyahu’s office provided no specific new documents in the recent statement but referenced previously published reports from credible sources including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Leaked emails from 2005 to 2017, reviewed by USA Today, show Barak planning meetings at Epstein’s properties, including one in 2015 where he thanked Epstein for accommodation at a Manhattan site later linked to trafficking allegations. Barak’s representative expressed deep regret over the association.
Netanyahu’s Statement in Full Context
Netanyahu made the comments during an interview with Channel 14, an Israeli news network, on February 5, 2026. “Epstein’s ties to Barak prove he was not an Israeli asset but someone working against us,” Netanyahu stated, linking the relationship to broader concerns over foreign influence in Israeli politics. The prime minister did not elaborate on specific anti-Israel actions attributed to Epstein beyond the Barak connection.
Journalist Mario Nawfal highlighted the exchange in real time on X amid global coverage of the interview. Mario Nawfal said in X post,
“Netanyahu talks about the connection between Esptein and FMR Israeli PM Ehud Barak: "Jeffrey Epstein's unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn't suggest Epstein worked for Israel. Barak has for years obsessively attempted to undermine Israeli democracy...””
Barak responded via a statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling Netanyahu’s claims “a desperate smear tactic amid corruption trials.” Barak faces no charges related to Epstein but has been questioned in related investigations. Netanyahu himself appears in Epstein’s flight logs from the 1990s, predating Epstein’s legal troubles, though no meetings with Barak are recorded together.
The statement aligns with Netanyahu’s ongoing political battles, including trials for bribery, fraud, and breach of trust since 2020. Critics, including opposition leaders, have accused Netanyahu of using the Epstein issue to deflect from domestic challenges, though Netanyahu’s allies frame it as exposing security risks.
Epstein’s Network and Israeli Connections
Epstein cultivated relationships with numerous Israeli figures. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s associate convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking, introduced him to elites including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Shimon Peres. Reports from Vanity Fair and others note Epstein’s boasts of intelligence ties, though U.S. and Israeli officials have dismissed Mossad links as unsubstantiated.
A 2019 Wall Street Journal investigation revealed Epstein’s business dealings with Ehud Barak’s investment firm, Carbyne, a tech startup focused on emergency response systems. Barak served as Carbyne’s chairman, and Epstein invested $1 million in 2015. Carbyne also employed former Israeli intelligence officers. Barak has said Epstein’s involvement was minimal and severed post-conviction knowledge.
U.S. court documents unsealed in 2024 from Epstein-related lawsuits mention Barak over 10 times, primarily as a visitor. No allegations of wrongdoing against Barak appear in the filings. Epstein’s former pilot testified in 2021 depositions that Barak flew on the jet once, arranged separately.
Barak’s Public Responses Over Time
Ehud Barak has addressed the Epstein links multiple times. In July 2019, he told Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, “I made a mistake in judgement meeting him after his conviction, but it was for business, not personal.” Barak attended a 2014 Epstein-hosted dinner with other executives, photos of which surfaced in media reports.
In a 2020 interview with The New Yorker, Barak described Epstein as “a smart financier” but expressed regret over continued contact. Barak’s spokesperson confirmed payments from Epstein entities totalled around $2 million, used for office rent and salaries at his post-political venture. No illegality has been alleged in these transactions by authorities.
Barak ran unsuccessfully against Netanyahu in the 2021 elections, leveraging his military background as IDF chief of staff from 1991 to 1995. Recent polls show Barak’s approval low, partly due to the Epstein scrutiny revived by Netanyahu’s remarks.
In December 2025, at a New York Times DealBook Summit, Barak stated, “I now deeply regret having any association with him. Not at any point in our dealings with him did I ever witness any improper behavior, and certainly, I never participated in anything like that.”
Broader Implications for Israeli Politics
Netanyahu’s comments coincide with coalition tensions over judicial reforms and Gaza ceasefire talks. President Donald Trump, referenced in Netanyahu’s interview, hosted Barak in 2019 despite Epstein associations. Trump banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago in 2007 after misconduct reports.
Israeli opposition MKs, including Yair Lapid, condemned Netanyahu’s statement as politicised. “Reviving old stories won’t end trials,” Lapid posted. Netanyahu’s Likud party dismissed the criticism, pointing to Barak’s own 2019 election loss. No formal investigations into Barak-Epstein ties have been announced by Israeli or U.S. prosecutors recently.
Reactions from Media and Officials
Channel 12 News fact-checked Netanyahu’s claims, confirming Barak-Epstein meetings but noting no evidence of Epstein’s direct anti-Israel actions. The Times of Israel quoted analysts saying the statement aims at Barak’s lingering influence in security circles. U.S. outlets like Fox News picked up the story, framing it within Trump-Netanyahu relations.
Barak’s legal team reiterated that no Epstein-related probes target him. Netanyahu’s office released no additional evidence beyond public records. As of February 7, 2026, no new developments have emerged from the statement.