Mother and Daughter Who Disappeared in Vienna Return to Israel
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Initial reports of their arrest in Namibia for using forged passports were incorrect; the arrested individuals were an Iranian mother and daughter. The Yahalomis arrived in Israel on a flight from Athens after extensive searches across continents. The family stated their return is for rehabilitation.
The story in 2 lines · by baba
- Reports of their arrest in Namibia for using forged passports were mistaken; the detainees were Iranian.
- Israeli police confirmed the arrested individuals were impostors, not the Yahalomis.
The family stated that the two returned to Israel for rehabilitation.
This development follows initial reports that the pair had been arrested in Namibia on suspicion of using forged passports. However, it was clarified that the arrested individuals were not the Yahalomis but an Iranian mother and daughter. The Yahalomis boarded a flight from Athens, Greece, and arrived in Israel around 4:30 PM.
Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, a Chabad emissary in Namibia, explained the confusion. He was initially informed by immigration authorities about the arrest of "two Israelis" and offered assistance. Upon meeting the detainees, he realized they were Iranian, not Israeli, and spoke Persian. The arrested pair, a 14-year-old girl and her mother around 40, did not speak Hebrew and reportedly claimed to be Israeli during their interrogation.
Israeli police abroad confirmed to local authorities that the arrested individuals were not the Yahalomis but impostors. The Yahalomis had been reported missing in Vienna in August. Investigations revealed that Mali had meticulously planned their disappearance for over a year, withdrawing pension funds to finance their journey to South America. Cellphone correspondence indicated Li'al willingly joined the plan, writing to her mother, "I will go with you anywhere."
Both mother and daughter had deleted apps from their phones and taken other measures to avoid being tracked. Israeli police are investigating the circumstances of the arrest in Namibia but are not involved in the local investigation. Authorities are seeking to understand why the Iranian mother and daughter used forged passports and attempted to impersonate Israelis.
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