Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired a stunning salvo in the 2026 Epstein files uproar, turning explosive allegations into a political weapon against his longtime rival Ehud Barak.
In a sharp X post, Netanyahu declared: “The unusually close relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Ehud Barak is not evidence that Epstein worked for Israel. It is proof of the exact opposite.”
The bold claim flips the script on unsealed DOJ documents that spotlight Epstein’s decade of ties to Barak—former Israeli PM—including repeated meetings, visits to Epstein’s properties, emails, and murky business connections, plus FBI informant reports hinting Epstein was a possible “Mossad asset” under Barak’s influence.
Netanyahu insists the personal bond debunks any spy theory, while accusing Barak of fueling conspiracies to damage Israeli democracy.
No concrete Mossad link has been proven, yet this fierce rebuttal deepens Israel’s political wounds and leaves a haunting question: is it a shield for the truth—or a smokescreen for something darker?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched a blistering counteroffensive in the 2026 Epstein files controversy, weaponizing the scandal to target his longtime political adversary, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
In a February 6, 2026, post on X, Netanyahu declared: “Jeffrey Epstein’s unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn’t suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite.” He went on to accuse Barak of being “stuck on his election loss from over two decades ago” and obsessively working with the “anti-Zionist radical left” to undermine Israeli democracy through mass protests, unrest, and false narratives aimed at overthrowing the elected government.
The remarks come amid intense scrutiny following the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of millions of Epstein-related documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The files highlight Barak’s extensive decade-long ties to Epstein, including repeated visits to his Manhattan properties (over 30 documented from 2013-2017), emails, flights, joint business interests like the surveillance-tech firm Carbyne, and stays at an Epstein-managed apartment. Additional details cover discussions on post-political ventures, consultancy arrangements, and even speculative ideas involving Israel.
A 2020 FBI memorandum in the documents, based on a confidential human source, alleged Epstein was a “co-opted Mossad agent” “trained as a spy under” Barak, amid claimed Israeli political frictions (including Barak’s purported view of Netanyahu as a “criminal”). The source referenced Epstein’s attorney Alan Dershowitz allegedly informing officials that Epstein “belonged to both U.S. and allied intelligence services.” These remain unverified hearsay from one source, unsupported by any official U.S. or Israeli investigation.
Netanyahu’s inversion of the narrative—portraying the personal closeness as disproof of state involvement—aligns with denials from Israeli officials. Former Mossad leaders and ex-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have dismissed Mossad-Epstein links as baseless conspiracies incompatible with agency operations. Israeli intelligence sources have labeled the theories unfounded smears.
Barak has publicly expressed deep regret over the association, apologizing in interviews for the discomfort it caused and insisting he ended contact in 2019 upon learning more about Epstein’s crimes. He denies any wrongdoing or awareness of illicit activities, describing the relationship as personal and non-criminal.
No smoking-gun evidence in the unsealed files confirms Epstein operated as an intelligence asset for Israel—or any entity. Mainstream analyses view persistent Mossad speculation as unsubstantiated, often fueled by online amplification rather than facts. Netanyahu’s attack exploits deep political divisions in Israel, reframing the scandal as ammunition against Barak while deflecting broader questions about elite networks.
Whether this serves as a robust defense of Israel’s integrity or a calculated deflection from uncomfortable revelations remains hotly contested. The disclosures keep probing intersections of power, finance, and geopolitics, but official positions in Jerusalem and Washington maintain no proven espionage connection exists.
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