Court Halts Transfer of Twins to Father's School Amid Evacuation Concerns

A district court in Nazareth has temporarily halted a ruling that would have sent 6-year-old twins to start first grade in their father's hometown. The court, presided over by Judge Assaf Zaguri, decided that it is currently in the twins' best interest to remain near their mother.

The twins' parents are divorced and previously lived in the same community near Israel's northern border. Following the October 7th Hamas attacks, the mother and children were evacuated, while the father remained and served in the reserves. In January, a welfare committee recommended the twins return to their father's residence for schooling starting September 1st. A family court in Kiryat Shmona adopted this recommendation two weeks ago.

The mother appealed to the district court, arguing that the twins have become well-integrated into their current community over the past three years since the war began. She contended that another move would cause them severe emotional distress and potentially lead to regression, citing a history of verbal and emotional abuse from the father.

The father countered that keeping the twins with their mother harms their relationship with him, separates them from their older sister who attends school in his town, and imposes a significant travel burden on him. However, Judge Zaguri prioritized the mother's position. He noted that while the initial ruling was based on professional recommendations, it lacked sufficient explanation as to why the move was in the children's best interest.

The judge highlighted a conflicting opinion from one twin's therapist, who warned of potential emotional and social setbacks. "I am convinced that the immediate move could harm the minors' welfare more than remaining in the mother's town and starting school there with children they know from kindergarten and their familiar social environment," the judge wrote. He ruled that the lesser of two evils was to delay the previous ruling and allow the twins to begin school in their mother's town, especially given the inherent difficulties of starting first grade. The mother's request was granted, and the father was ordered to pay 3,000 shekels in expenses. A final hearing on the matter is scheduled for after the holidays.