Revealed: The Secret Network Notorious Jeffrey Epstein Used To Push Israel’s Security State Into West Africa | World News

Washington: When Ivory Coast (a country in West Africa) descended into violence following the contentious 2010 presidential election, the world’s attention was focused on street clashes and diplomatic pressure. Away from the public eye, the two men began to navigate a very different layer of the conflict. One was Jeffrey Epstein, a notorious financier, and the other was Ehud Barak, Israel’s former prime minister and defense minister. Together, they transformed a fragile political moment into an avenue for influence, security agreements and new opportunities.

Unrest began immediately after the vote. The United Nations declared Alassane Ouattara the winner, but Laurent Gbagbo refused to resign. This tension continued until French and UN forces removed Gbagbo in 2011. The tension did not calm down immediately.

A year later, in June 2012, Ouattara survived a coup attempt. Five days later, he met with Barak and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to talk about cooperation in the fight against terrorism. An Israeli team then traveled to Ivory Coast to examine how security and the country’s presidential army could be strengthened.

By 2013, Barak left his post in the cabinet and spoke publicly about retiring from politics. Out of sight, he began providing Israeli security services to governments under pressure. Epstein quietly and consistently supported these efforts.

Emails reviewed by Drop Site News reveal that Epstein wrote to Barak: “…with the outbreak of civil unrest […] and the desperation of those in power is not that much like you.”

Barak replied: “You are right [in] far. However, it is not easy to convert this into cash flow.”

Their collaboration in Ivory Coast has focused on bringing Israeli state-backed security solutions to the country. Leaked emails and materials submitted to the US House Oversight Committee cited by Drop Site News show that Epstein was involved in Israeli intelligence-related activities in Africa in 2012, when Barak was still serving as defense secretary.

Epstein helped distribute plans prepared by former Israeli intelligence officials to monitor telephone and Internet communications in Ivory Coast. What started as private talks later evolved into a formal security agreement between Israel and Ivory Coast in 2014.

During this period, Epstein oversaw many important promotions. On June 18, 2012, the same day Barak met Ouattara, Ouattara’s son also met Epstein in New York. Three months later, Epstein met with Ouattara’s niece, Nina Keita, and later that day, met Barak in a private room at the Regency Hotel. Epstein then traveled to Africa with plans to visit Ivory Coast, Angola and Senegal.

Barak stated that his relationship with Epstein was personal, but documents show that Epstein worked as a connector. Barak continued to be involved in making the agreements even after leaving office in March 2013.

On March 19, Barak received a message from his brother-in-law, Doron Cohen, containing MF Group documents describing the existence of a surveillance and video surveillance center in Abidjan. Communications remained coded to prevent tipping off.

Talks slowed down briefly after the UN report pointed to Israeli-tagged ammunition, which led to the extension of the embargo. During this break, Barak contacted Israeli security official Amos Malka, businessman Michael “Micky” Federmann, and Ouattara’s private secretary, Sidi Tiemoko Toure.

Barak then flew to Abidjan on 1 August 2013. His visit was publicly described as an attempt to build a hospital. Local officials welcomed him warmly. He met with senior officials of the Ivory Coast government and met with President Ouattara.

On September 16, 2013, Aharon Ze’evi-Farkash, former head of Israeli military intelligence, sent Barak a 13-page briefing outlining the SIGINT system for Ivory Coast. He wrote: “The document is based on Amnon’s and my experience accumulated during my service with the unit… I believe it meets the ‘transfer of knowledge’ test. I thought it would be appropriate to bring this to your attention.”

Other meetings followed. Through his network of contacts, Epstein helped coordinate additional sessions in New York.

After UN embargoes were lifted in mid-2014, Israel and Ivory Coast formalized their agreement with a defense and internal security agreement.

Additional emails revealed another connection. Yoni Koren, a former Israeli intelligence officer who served as a close aide to Barak, stayed at Epstein’s Manhattan mansion several times between 2013 and 2015. Koren, a Mossad veteran, continued to act as an unofficial conduit between Barak and Israeli intelligence circles during this period.