Audio recordings released this week reveal former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak discussing mass conversion and selective immigration strategies with Jeffrey Epstein. In the conversations, Barak suggests weakening the Orthodox rabbinate's control over conversion and opening Israel to large-scale conversion, particularly targeting immigrants from the former Soviet Union. The remarks have sparked political backlash in Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing Barak of trying to 'replace the people' and echoing conspiracy theories about demographic engineering. Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, former leader of Moscow's Jewish community, criticized the idea as offensive and contrary to Jewish law, recalling similar proposals from Israeli officials in the past. The controversy has reignited debate over Israel's demographic policies and Barak's ties to Epstein, though there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by Barak.