Epstein’s Role in Israeli Cyber Financing Uncovered

New Emails Reveal Epstein’s involvement in financing Israeli Cyber Offensives

By International Desk

Newly disclosed emails and documents paint a picture of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein acting as a key intermediary between Baroness Ariane de Rothschild, CEO of the Swiss-based Edmond de Rothschild Group, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in an effort to secure financing for Israeli “offensive cyber” startups after Barak left government in 2013.

The revelations come from two main sources: emails released by the U.S. House Oversight Committee on November 12, 2025, and a leaked inbox from Barak allegedly hacked by the group Handala and published by Distributed Denial of Secrets.

Investigative outlet Drop Site News first reported the details, verifying key elements through cross-referencing with official disclosures.

Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, had cultivated a close personal relationship with de Rothschild.

The bank initially denied any ties after a 2015 visit by de Rothschild to Epstein’s Manhattan mansion became public, but later admitted she met him multiple times between 2013 and 2019 for professional advice on U.S. finance, tax matters, and estate planning.

Documents show the relationship went deeper. In 2014, Epstein planned to attend a Broadway show with de Rothschild and scheduled a private trip to Montreal with her.

In 2018, he gossiped with former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler about de Rothschild’s marital troubles, writing: “ariane said ben giving her a very hard time, and did not know about tattoo…she said he wants her to do wife like things. ugh.”.

Epstein positioned himself as a bridge to Barak, who was exploring post-political business opportunities in cybersecurity. In November 2013, Epstein relayed a message from de Rothschild to Barak: “it was said to me, if Ehud [Barak] wants to make serious money, he will have to build a relationship with me. take time so that we can truly understand one another.”

Barak, eager but uncertain, replied to Epstein: “I’m ready. But I need your advise re HOW? (ladies is your forté).” Epstein advised offering “time. attention. stable. recurring. PREDICTABLE where what when.”

The goal appeared to be funding for Israeli cyberweapons firms. Barak recruited Pavel Gurvich, a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces’ elite Unit 81, to identify promising startups inspired by Edward Snowden’s 2013 revelations about U.S. surveillance capabilities. Discussions covered tools for hacking cell phones (similar to NSO Group products), routers, internet-connected devices, and Tor network surveillance.

Barak proposed a donor-advised venture capital fund focused on Israeli telecom, cybersecurity, and biotech firms, potentially structured through Edmond de Rothschild’s “umbrella” funds. Epstein had pitched similar ideas to banks after the 2008 financial crisis.

It remains unclear if the Rothschild bank directly invested in these cyber initiatives. However, in October 2015, de Rothschild signed a $25 million contract with Epstein’s Southern Trust Company for “risk analysis and the application and use of certain algorithms.”

The same entity had earlier funded Barak’s intelligence-linked startup Reporty Homeland Security (rebranded Carbyne).
Epstein also facilitated meetings, including a 2014 Paris dinner involving de Rothschild, Barak, and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (which Epstein ultimately skipped due to illness).

Communications show Epstein and Barak expressing frustration with de Rothschild’s investment focus on African consumer economies rather than resource extraction and security tech, which aligned with their own African dealings.

Neither de Rothschild nor Barak responded to requests for comment from journalists. The Edmond de Rothschild Group has previously described its interactions with Epstein as limited to legitimate consulting.

The disclosures add to ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s ties to global elites and Israel’s tech sector, amid broader releases of thousands of pages from his estate by the House Oversight Committee.