Arabic version: تركيب الأمن الإسرائيلي في شقة إبستين في نيويورك لصالح باراك
The Israeli government has been revealed to have installed security measures at a Manhattan apartment associated with the late Jeffrey Epstein, primarily for the use of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. This information comes from an investigation published by Drop Site News, which cites emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to Al Jazeera, Israeli officials began coordinating directly with Epstein’s staff in early 2016 to secure the residence located at 301 East 66th Street. Although the property was technically owned by Epstein’s brother, Mark Epstein, it was primarily controlled by Jeffrey Epstein himself, who frequently loaned the units to associates.
Barak, who served as Israel’s prime minister from 1999 to 2001, used the apartment for extended stays. Under Israeli law, former prime ministers are entitled to state-funded security, which raises questions about the nature of Barak’s relationship with Epstein. The emails indicate that Rafi Shlomo, the former director of protective services at Israel’s UN mission, was directly involved in managing access to the apartment and overseeing the installation of security equipment.
The correspondence between Barak’s wife, Nili Priell, and Epstein’s assistant highlights the extent of the security measures, including alarms and surveillance tools. Epstein himself had authorized these modifications, as indicated in the emails exchanged in January 2016. This operational relationship has led to political ramifications for Barak, who has attempted to distance himself from Epstein following the latter’s death in 2019.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has seized on the revelations to criticize Barak, suggesting that the ties implicate Barak rather than the Israeli government. Netanyahu’s comments reflect ongoing political tensions, with Barak’s rivals leveraging the situation to undermine his credibility.
As investigations continue into Epstein’s connections with global elites, including Barak, the implications of these ties may further unfold. Barak has expressed regret over his association with Epstein, claiming he was unaware of the full scope of Epstein’s crimes until a wider federal inquiry was opened in 2019, a statement that has been met with skepticism amid the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s extensive network.
