Epstein-Barak Ties: Netanyahu Revives 2019 Election Scandal

The ties between Jeffrey Epstein, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Benjamin Netanyahu first surfaced prominently during Israel's chaotic 2019 elections, a period marked by three consecutive votes amid Netanyahu's corruption scandals and political deadlock.

Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019, had a documented relationship with Barak dating back years: Barak visited Epstein's properties multiple times (including his New York townhouse), received grants from Epstein-linked philanthropist Les Wexner, and even sought Epstein's input on articles critiquing Netanyahu.

In July 2019, Netanyahu's Likud campaign amplified these links by sharing photos of Barak entering Epstein's Manhattan residence and demanding a criminal probe, framing it as a vulnerability for Barak's new Democratic Israel party, which aimed to unite the center-left opposition against Netanyahu.

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Barak dismissed the attacks, noting he was introduced to Epstein via the late President Shimon Peres and was unaware of Epstein's full criminal history at the time. This smear tactic contributed to Barak's electoral struggles, as polls showed it eroded his support, though Netanyahu himself faced unrelated corruption indictments.

Fast-forward to yesterday (Friday): Newly declassified documents from the U.S. House Oversight Committee—over 20,000 pages released earlier this month—revealed Epstein's private texts to Steve Bannon (former Trump advisor) in June 2019, where Epstein bragged about "dealing with Ehud in Israel" and implied he orchestrated Barak's political comeback to challenge Netanyahu in the September 2019 vote. Epstein shared a Ynet article on Barak's party launch with Bannon, adding: "Only the first step," suggesting deeper involvement in reorganizing Israel's left-wing forces.

The Jacobin piece, titled "Jeffrey Epstein Claimed to Have Meddled in Israel’s Elections" (published November 20, 2025), highlights these texts while questioning Epstein's broader Israeli connections, including rumors of Mossad ties based on leaked emails showing Barak discussing cyberweapons funding with Epstein and banker Ariane de Rothschild in 2013.Netanyahu reposted the article on X (formerly Twitter) that evening without comment, just before Shabbat, an unusual move from a right-wing leader sharing content from a left-leaning, socialist outlet like Jacobin, which also critiques his "extreme and corruption-embroiled rule."

Analysts speculate it was a calculated jab at Barak, who remains a vocal Netanyahu critic and democracy advocate, especially amid ongoing Gaza tensions. No official responses from Barak or Netanyahu's office but U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene recently echoed similar claims on CNN, alleging Israeli pressure to withhold Epstein files.

This revival ties into persistent Epstein-Israel speculation: His Jewish background, Israel visits, and hawkish emails (e.g., opposing the Iran nuclear deal and favoring Syrian strikes) fuel theories of intelligence work, though unsubstantiated.

The timing, amid U.S. election echoes and Middle East volatility, has reignited debates on foreign influence in Israeli politics, with some viewing it as Netanyahu's playbook from 2019: Weaponize scandals to deflect from his own.In short, it's a mix of old rivalries and fresh leaks amplifying a scandal that's haunted Israeli discourse for years.