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Israeli intelligence sources reject claims Jeffrey Epstein was Mossad operative following document releases
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A wave of recent reporting and newly released documents detailing the relationship between former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Jeffrey Epstein has reignited claims that Epstein worked for Israel’s Mossad, a theory Israeli intelligence sources and senior political leaders are forcefully rejecting.
Ex-Israeli intelligence officials told Fox News Digital that Epstein never worked for Mossad, describing the allegation as baseless and inconsistent with how the agency operates.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly pushed back on the claims, writing on X: «Jeffrey Epstein’s unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn’t suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite.»
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In the same post, Netanyahu escalated his criticism, writing: «Stuck on his election loss from over two decades ago, Barak has for years obsessively attempted to undermine Israeli democracy by working with the anti-Zionist radical left in failed attempts to overthrow the elected Israeli government.»
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also sharply dismissed the accusations, writing: «As a former Israeli Prime Minister, with the Mossad having reported directly to me, I say to you with 100% certainty: The accusation that Jeffrey Epstein somehow worked for Israel or the Mossad ran a blackmail ring is categorically and totally false. Epstein’s conduct, both the criminal and the merely despicable, had nothing whatsoever to do with the Mossad or the State of Israel. Epstein never worked for the Mossad.»
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is seen in this handout image from the estate of late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, released by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Dec. 12, 2025. (House Oversight Committee Democrats/Handout via Reuters)
Ex-Mossad director Yossi Cohen also rejected the claims in a podcast interview with The Free Press, saying Epstein had «absolutely nothing» to do with the Mossad — «not an agent, not an operative, nothing.»
The strong denials come amid renewed scrutiny of emails, financial records and communications included in U.S. Justice Department materials and other public reporting, none of which indicate that Epstein cooperated with Israeli intelligence.
Barak, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and later as defense minister in Netanyahu’s government, has become one of Netanyahu’s most vocal political opponents.
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak during a press conference on July 25, 2019, in Tel Aviv. (Amir Levy/Getty Images)
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Barak’s office fired back, describing Netanyahu’s remarks as politically motivated and reiterating that he regrets ever meeting Epstein while denying any wrongdoing.
«Barak has repeatedly and publicly stated that he regrets ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein. There is no credible allegation—none—that Barak engaged in any illegal or inappropriate conduct,» the statement said.
Barak’s office also called Netanyahu’s attacks «the desperate acts of a failed and panicked politician» and «a pathetic attempt to divert attention from his catastrophic record,» accusing the prime minister of attempting to shift blame for national failures.
Newly surfaced materials continue to document Barak’s personal and professional interactions with Epstein, including stays at Epstein’s New York apartment and meetings arranged through the financier.
EXCLUSIVE: EPSTEIN EMAILS RELEASED AS DOJ SAYS NO CRIMINAL OR INAPPROPRIATE CONDUCT BY TRUMP
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in federal custody in 2019. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)
Emails cited in document releases describe the apartment as being used by Barak and his then-wife during visits to the United States, with staff coordinating logistics and maintenance requests tied to the property.
Other communications referenced financial ties and introductions facilitated by Epstein, including meetings with prominent business figures, as well as broader correspondence and internal notes referencing allegations, warnings and speculation surrounding Epstein’s activities.
Barak has acknowledged meeting Epstein multiple times and said he regrets the association. In a previous interview, he said he never witnessed improper behavior and never participated in anything illegal.
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«At times during my occasional visits to the United States, I was sometimes a participant in a breakfast or lunch or dinner at his New York townhouse, together with respected American public figures,» Barak said. «At no point in my dealings with him did I ever witness any improper behavior, and I certainly never participated in anything like that.»
jeffrey epstein,israel,benjamin netanyahu,anti semitism
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Rubio se reúne con el primer ministro Orbán en Hungría para impulsar acuerdos energéticos y reforzar la cooperación bilateral
El secretario de Estado de Estados Unidos, Marco Rubio, llegó a Budapest para reunirse con el primer ministro Viktor Orbán, en el tramo final de una gira por Europa marcada por la seguridad, la guerra en Ucrania y el respaldo político de Washington al líder húngaro en plena campaña electoral.
La visita se produce antes de las elecciones legislativas del 12 de abril en Hungría, donde Orbán enfrenta un desafío relevante por parte de la oposición. Las encuestas ubican al partido gobernante Fidesz por detrás del TISZA, encabezado por el dirigente opositor Péter Magyar.
Rubio aterrizó en la capital húngara el domingo por la noche y tiene previsto mantener conversaciones este lunes por la mañana con Orbán antes de regresar a Washington. La reunión sigue a su participación en la Conferencia de Seguridad de Múnich y a su visita a Bratislava, donde se habló con el primer ministro eslovaco Robert Fico, otro dirigente nacionalista cercano a la Casa Blanca.
El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump expresó su respaldo al mandatario húngaro días antes del encuentro. En una publicación en redes sociales, destacó que Orbán logró resultados “fenomenales” en Hungría y le deseó suerte de cara a los comicios de abril.
En Budapest, Rubio y el ministro de Exteriores húngaro, Péter Szijjártó, tienen previsto firmar un acuerdo de cooperación en materia de energía nuclear. Según el jefe de comunicación internacional del Gobierno húngaro, Zoltán Kovács, en la agenda también figuran los contactos sobre Ucrania y la cooperación bilateral.
Kovács señaló que ambos dirigentes debatirán “los esfuerzos por la paz” en Ucrania y otros asuntos estratégicos. Tras el encuentro, está prevista una rueda de prensa conjunta para informar sobre el resultado de las conversaciones.
Desde Bratislava, Rubio defendió la relación con Europa y el papel de Estados Unidos dentro de la alianza atlántica. En un mensaje dirigido a los socios europeos, afirmó: “No estamos pidiendo a Europa que sea un vasallo de Estados Unidos. Queremos ser su socio. Queremos trabajar con Europa. Queremos trabajar con nuestros aliados”.
Durante su intervención en la Conferencia de Seguridad de Múnich, el secretario de Estado pidió a los países europeos que se sumen a la estrategia de Trump frente a la inmigración masiva, en un discurso que también incluyó referencias a la defensa de la civilización occidental. Al mismo tiempo, buscó transmitir calma sobre la posición estadounidense respecto de la OTAN y Groenlandia.
En Hungría, el Gobierno considera que la guerra en Ucrania será uno de los temas centrales del encuentro. El ministro Szijjártó sostuvo que “los políticos europeos intentan socavar sistemáticamente los esfuerzos de Donald Trump para lograr la paz (en Ucrania)”, según el portal independiente 444.hu.
Orbán, que gobierna con mayoría absoluta desde 2010, mantuvo un discurso duro contra sus adversarios internos y externos en un acto reciente. Allí aseguró que continuará su lucha contra “organizaciones pseudo-civiles, periodistas, jueces y políticos comprados”. También atacó a la “maquinaria opresiva de Bruselas”, en referencia a las autoridades de la Unión Europea, con las que mantiene desacuerdos desde hace años.
Los líderes comunitarios cuestionan a su Gobierno por presuntas restricciones a las voces críticas en el poder judicial, el ámbito académico, los medios y la sociedad civil, además de acusarlo de atacar a las minorías. La cercanía política con Rusia y el vínculo con el presidente Vladimir Putin aumentan la tensión con Bruselas.
Hungría mantiene una fuerte dependencia energética de Moscú. El país adquiere de Rusia el 85% del gas y el 65% del crudo que consume. Tras una visita de Orbán a la Casa Blanca en 2025, Trump concedió a Hungría una exención a las sanciones contra las importaciones de petróleo y gas rusos vinculadas a la invasión de Ucrania.
En noviembre pasado, el primer ministro anunció que su país también recibió excepciones sin límite temporal a las sanciones estadounidenses contra las petroleras rusas Rosneft y Lukoil.
Orbán se convirtió en una figura destacada para muchos simpatizantes de Trump por su postura contra la migración durante la crisis de refugiados sirios. Desde entonces, visitó varias veces el resort Mar-a-Lago en Florida y sostuvo una relación política cercana con el mandatario estadounidense.
El líder húngaro figura entre los dirigentes que viajarán a Washington la próxima semana para asistir a la reunión inaugural de la denominada “Junta de la Paz” impulsada por Trump, una iniciativa que críticos consideran diseñada para competir con el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU.
(Con información de EFE y AFP)
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Waltz calls UN a ‘cesspool for antisemitism’ as Trump administration pushes major reforms
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EXCLUSIVE: U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz is calling for sweeping reform at the world body, placing the fight against antisemitism at the top of the agenda as the Trump administration pushes for changes across the institution.
In an exclusive on-camera interview, Waltz argued that confronting antisemitism should be a central pillar of any overhaul of the U.N., alongside a broader return to what he described as the organization’s core mission of peace and security.
«The U.N. has an atrocious history and record when it comes to antisemitism. Number one, it’s a cesspool for antisemitism in many ways,» Waltz said. «This administration is determined to fight it.»
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U.S Ambassador to United Nations Michael Waltz speaks with Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon before a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to consider a U.S. proposal for a U.N. mandate to establish an international stabilization force in Gaza, at U.N. headquarters in New York City, Nov. 17, 2025. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
He framed the issue as both urgent and historic, linking rising global antisemitism and the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks to what he said must be a renewed commitment inside international institutions.
«We have to live up to the mantra of never again,» Waltz said. «As we see antisemitism on the rise around the world… after October 7th, in particular, we have to live up to that mantra.»
Waltz pointed to Holocaust remembrance and survivor testimony as essential tools in combating denial and historical revisionism, saying education must be central to any U.N. response.
«It’s about education. It’s about fighting back on these ridiculous denials of the Holocaust,» he said. «But most importantly, while we still have them, it’s about hearing from the survivors and hearing their personal stories.»
Memorials at the site of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, Israel, on Monday, May 27, 2024. (Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images )
He added that U.N. forums should elevate survivor testimony rather than political messaging.
«My recommendation to the U.N. is, get the diplomats and the politicians out of the way, let’s just hear from the survivors because their stories are compelling, they are tragic, they need to be heard and documented, and they certainly can’t ever be denied,» Waltz said.
The ambassador’s remarks come as the administration calls for broader structural reform at the United Nations, including changes to how it approaches development aid, humanitarian operations and leadership.
WALTZ TO ROOT OUT ANTISEMITISM, ELIMINATE ‘WOKE’ PROGRAMS, GET ‘BACK TO BASICS’ AT THE UNITED NATIONS
A view of the United Nations Headquarters building in New York City, United States on July 16, 2024. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Waltz said Washington wants to see a more focused institution centered on conflict prevention and peacekeeping, with less reliance on traditional aid frameworks.
«I see, and I think what the president sees, is a much more focused U.N. that we have taken back to the basics of promoting peace and security around the world and enforcing peace when conflict breaks out through its peacekeeping forces,» he said.
The push for reform comes against the backdrop of longstanding criticism from U.S. officials and watchdog groups over how Israel is treated within the U.N. system and concerns about antisemitism linked to some U.N.-affiliated bodies.
UNRWA, the U.N. agency responsible for Palestinian refugees, has faced mounting scrutiny in recent years. Reports by education monitoring organizations documented content in materials used in UNRWA-linked classrooms that delegitimizes Israel or includes antisemitic themes.
Media investigations after Oct. 7 further intensified attention on the agency, with allegations involving staff and militant ties triggering donor freezes and internal probes.
An independent review commissioned by the United Nations acknowledged neutrality challenges and recommended stronger oversight and vetting mechanisms.
ISRAEL’S NETANYAHU DEMANDS WESTERN GOVERNMENTS ACT TO BATTLE ANTISEMITISM: ‘HEED OUR WARNINGS’
Photos released by the Israeli Defense Force show three individuals that the Israeli military claims are Hamas terrorists inside an UNRWA compound in Rafah. (IDF)
Beyond UNRWA, critics have pointed to structural patterns across the U.N. system. Israel remains the only country assigned a permanent agenda item at the U.N. Human Rights Council, mandating discussion at every session.
At the General Assembly, Israel has frequently been the subject of more country-specific resolutions than any other state in many annual sessions.
Successive U.S. administrations have described that focus as disproportionate.
U.N. officials reject the characterization of institutional antisemitism, arguing that scrutiny reflects the scale and duration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and humanitarian concerns, and pointing to reforms underway within agencies including UNRWA.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz raises his hand to vote in favor of a draft resolution authorizing an International Stabilization Force in Gaza on Nov. 17, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty)
Waltz said confronting antisemitism must remain a priority as the U.N. prepares for leadership changes and debates over its future direction. He placed combating antisemitism within that broader reform push, alongside other policy priorities and future leadership decisions at the world body.
«So those are just some of the things in addition to… taking on antisemitism… getting… good, strong leadership in the U.N. going forward that we hope to get done during our time here.»
anti semitism,united nations,israel,state department,holocaust
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