Jeffrey Epstein Ties To Ehud Barak Becomes Israeli Election Issue
Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak looks on during a press conference at Beit Sokolov in Tel Aviv on June 26, 2019 to announce that he will be running in the upcoming elections in September. Image by JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender now embroiled in a sex-trafficking case, has become a player in Israel’s election campaign.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised questions about former prime minister Ehud Barak’s relationship with Epstein and money Barak received from a foundation helmed by Epstein.
Barak, who left politics in 2013, recently re-entered the political fray, announcing a new party formed for the purpose of unseating Netanyahu.
On Sunday, Netanyahu tweeted a screenshot of a Hebrew-language report about Epstein’s arrest and his ties to Barak. The report said that Epstein had been a trustee of the Wexner Foundation when it gave Barak $1 million in 2004, but did not provide the reason.
Barak responded in a tweet: “It pains me to hear that people I know get in trouble and face criminal charges. First Netanyahu, now Epstein. I wish both of them that the truth will come out.”
Epstein was arrested Saturday in connection with allegations that he was involved in sex trafficking dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He was indicted Monday in federal court in Manhattan.
Netanyahu is at the center of three pending corruption cases.
The prime minister doubled down on Tuesday, posting a video under the heading “What else has sex offender Epstein given to Barak?”
The video charges that Barak received a payment of $2.3 million from the foundation and has not disclosed what the payment was for beyond saying in an interview that he provides “consulting and research services.” It claims Barak never conducted the research.
Netanyahu’s Likud party also has alleged that Barak attended a party hosted by Epstein in 2016.
Barak struck back late Tuesday, noting Netanyahu’s close friendship with Arnaud Mimran, a convicted French tax evader.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
