Jeffrey Epstein’s “unusual close relationship” with former Prime Minister Ehud Barak suggests the American multimillionaire was working to “undermine Israeli democracy,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday.
Netanyahu in a social media post charged that Epstein’s close ties to Barak actually prove “the opposite” of claims that the convicted sex offender, who died in prison in 2019, was employed by the Jewish state in any capacity.
According to Netanyahu, “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.”
The current prime minister continued, “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.”
Jeffrey Epstein's unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn't suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite.
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) February 6, 2026
Stuck on his election loss from over two decades ago, Barak has for years obsessively attempted to undermine Israeli democracy by working with the…
There is no evidence linking Epstein to Israel’s intelligence services. In one email the U.S. Justice Department made public in recent weeks, he rejected a proposal to visit, writing, “I do not like Israel. AT ALL.”
Barak regularly stayed at a New York apartment owned by Epstein between 2015 and 2019, according to hundreds of emails between Epstein and his associates made public by the Justice Department.
The former Israeli premier confirmed to the Haaretz daily on Saturday that he stayed at the apartment “from time to time,” even after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a 14-year-old girl in 2008.
According to the emails seen by Haaretz, Epstein’s maintenance staff and personal assistant referred to the dwelling as “Ehud’s apartment.”
The correspondence also showed that Barak’s wife, Nili Priel, frequently corresponded with Epstein’s staff. She updated Epstein on the couple’s travel dates for numerous visits, Haaretz said. In July 2015, the couple told staff they would be staying at the apartment for three months.
According to previous reports, Barak visited Epstein at least 36 times. However, the former prime minister has repeatedly claimed he was unaware of Epstein’s illegal activities and denied any wrongdoing.
“I am a feminist. The deeds attributed to Epstein are heinous and I had nothing to do with them,” Barak said following Epstein’s 2019 arrest, adding that he would be cutting all business ties with the financier.
