Naftali Bennett, Israel’s former prime minister and once head of the Mossad intelligence agency, reportedly issued a sharp rebuttal this week against allegations made by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who claimed that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was operating as an agent of Israeli intelligence.
In a pointed social media statement, Mr. Bennett wrote, “I want to say clearly and with 100% certainty: Jeffrey Epstein was not an agent of the Mossad.”
He characterized Carlson’s claims as “categorically and totally false,” and accused the former television personality of spreading a “vicious wave of slander and lies” against Israel.
Mr. Carlson made the incendiary assertion during a recent political summit, suggesting that Epstein’s notorious sex trafficking operation was not only criminal but part of a foreign intelligence blackmail scheme.
“Every single person in Washington, D.C., thinks that Epstein was a Mossad agent,” Carlson declared, implying a vast network of complicity within American political circles.
The former Fox News host further argued that Epstein’s ability to evade scrutiny for so long indicated the protection of a powerful intelligence agency.
He speculated that Epstein’s operation was a tool to gain leverage over influential figures through kompromat—compromising material—collected via his extensive network of victims.
In response to Bennett’s rejection of the claims, Carlson invited the former Israeli leader to participate in a public interview to discuss the matter directly.
The offer signals an unusual escalation in the debate, which has largely played out through statements and social media exchanges.
The controversy underscores the challenges of separating fact from speculation in a case that has fascinated and confounded the public since Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death.
While Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures and mysterious financial dealings have fueled numerous theories, officials like Bennett are eager to dispel narratives they see as damaging and unfounded.
Liberal leaning experts caution that unsubstantiated allegations linking Epstein to intelligence agencies risk undermining serious investigations and spreading unsubstantiated rumors.
As the discussion unfolds, the focus remains on verifying credible information amid a landscape rife with rumors and innuendo.
Bennett’s unequivocal denunciation reflects not only personal indignation but a broader concern about protecting Israel’s international reputation from the consequences of sensitive information leaking out.
[READ MORE: Fauci Dragging His Feet After Court Order]
