Netanyahu uses Epstein files to attack political rival Ehud Barak

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly entered the controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files, using the scandal to launch a scathing political assault on former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. In a statement on social media, Netanyahu directly addressed the documented meetings between Barak and the convicted sex offender, framing them as evidence of Barak's poor judgment rather than any Israeli intelligence connection.

Netanyahu's accusation and political framing

Breaking his silence on the newly released documents, Netanyahu wrote that Epstein's "unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn't suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite." He then pivoted to a broad political indictment, accusing Barak of being "stuck on his election loss from over two decades ago" and of "obsessively" working to "undermine Israeli democracy." Netanyahu claimed Barak collaborates with the "anti-Zionist radical left" in failed attempts to overthrow the elected government, engaging in activities to "fuel mass protest movements, foment unrest and feed false media narratives."

Context of the Barak-Epstein connection

The attack follows renewed media scrutiny of Barak's ties to Epstein. Photos from 2015 and 2016 show Barak entering Epstein's Manhattan residence, years after Epstein's first criminal conviction for soliciting a minor. Barak has been a long-standing and vocal critic of Netanyahu, and in mid-2025 joined thousands of Israeli health professionals in petitions urging the government to prioritize securing captives in Gaza, even if it meant halting the war—a stance directly at odds with Netanyahu's policy.

Broader release of Epstein files

Netanyahu's comments coincided with the U.S. Department of Justice's release of over three million additional documents related to the Epstein investigation. The financier, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, is known to have associated with a global network of powerful figures. The files name numerous high-profile individuals, including former leaders and celebrities, placing Barak's association within a wider, infamous context.