Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak has expressed regret for his longstanding association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Barak acknowledged regular communication and multiple visits to Epstein’s Manhattan apartment and private island. While Barak has not been implicated in Epstein’s criminal activities, he apologized in an exclusive interview with Israel’s Channel 12, admitting that he should have exercised better judgment in his interactions with Epstein.
Barak’s comments came after the release of millions of pages of documents by the U.S. Justice Department related to Epstein’s investigations. The documents revealed Barak and his wife’s ongoing contact with Epstein, even after his 2008 conviction and prison sentence. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing and trafficking minors.
During the interview, Barak maintained that he had not engaged in any illegal or improper activities. He emphasized that he had cut ties with Epstein in 2019 upon learning the full extent of Epstein’s crimes. Barak clarified that he never witnessed or participated in any inappropriate behavior during his visits to Epstein’s residences.
Barak, who served as Israeli prime minister from 1999 to 2001, highlighted his peace talks with the Palestinians during his tenure. His association with Epstein became public knowledge when he attempted a political comeback years later. Despite receiving grants from the Wexner Foundation, where Epstein was a trustee, Barak denied receiving financial support from Epstein.
In a separate development, DP World, a major logistics company, announced new leadership following revelations in the Epstein documents. The company appointed Essa Kazim as chair and Yuvraj Narayan as group CEO, replacing Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. The decision came after financial groups in Canada and the UK paused collaborations with DP World due to the disclosed friendship between bin Sulayem and Epstein.
The unredacted documents also revealed connections between Epstein, Barak, and other prominent figures, prompting further scrutiny and resignations in various sectors. Kathy Ruemmler, the chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, announced her resignation amid revelations of her past association with Epstein. Despite referring to Epstein as a “monster” in recent statements, Ruemmler had received lavish gifts from him in the past.