I don't know if you just used Netanyahu as an example, but in 2008 when Epstein received his lenient sentence, Netanyahu was out of power. Israel was governed by a coalition of left of centre parties: Kadima, Labour, and Dor together with Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu. Ehud Ohlmert was the prime minister (2006 - 2009).
Yes, I used Netanyahu as an example. Any number of high-level Israeli officials could do the same.