Mother and Daughter Missing for Two Months Return to Israel
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Mali and Liel Yahalomi, missing for two months, returned to Israel on Wednesday after being found in South America. They arrived on a flight from Athens at Ben Gurion Airport and, despite media presence, declined to speak, with their lawyer requesting privacy. The mother and daughter reportedly returned to recover from their experiences. The disappearance was planned by Mali for over a year, with her daughter Liel willingly participating. Earlier reports of their detention in Namibia were a case of mistaken identity.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Mali and Liel Yahalomi returned to Israel on Wednesday after being missing for two months.
- The mother and daughter were found in South America after disappearing from Vienna in August.
- They arrived at Ben Gurion Airport and refused to speak to journalists, requesting privacy.
- Mali had planned the disappearance for over a year, with Liel willingly joining.
- Reports of their detention in Namibia were a case of mistaken identity involving Iranian nationals.
- Their lawyer stated they are not enemies of the state and have been through a lot.
Mali and Liel Yahalomi, who disappeared approximately two months ago and were later found in South America, have returned to Israel. Their flight from Athens landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Wednesday afternoon. A large contingent of journalists and photographers awaited them in the arrivals hall, but the mother and daughter declined to speak with the media, according to Kikar.
Emerging in matching outfits and sun hats, Mali and Liel avoided eye contact with cameras and microphones, proceeding directly to a waiting car without answering questions. Their lawyer addressed the press, requesting privacy for the women, stating they had "been through a lot" and were "not enemies of the state." She urged the media to respect their return and focus on the events of October 7.
Sources close to the family indicate Mali and Liel returned to Israel to recover from their ordeal and "leave this story behind." They are not expected to be interrogated by police. The women had been declared missing in August after disappearing from Vienna, Austria, sparking a global search involving hundreds of investigators.
Investigations revealed Mali had meticulously planned the disappearance for over a year, withdrawing funds from her pension to finance their trip to South America. Correspondence indicated Liel willingly joined the plan, with one message from the daughter stating, "I will go with you anywhere." To evade detection, they removed apps from their phones and took other measures to hinder the search.
Their return occurred shortly after reports of their alleged detention in Namibia for using fake passports. This was later clarified as a case of mistaken identity, with the detained individuals being an Iranian mother and daughter. Rabbi Yosef Rahimi, a Chabad emissary in Namibia, recounted receiving a notification about "two Israeli women" and initially attempting to assist them before realizing they were Iranian.
Mali's brother, Moshe Yahalomi, had previously informed N12 that the family was aware of their intention to return, though not the exact date. He expressed gratitude for the public's support during the initial search but emphasized the family's desire for a return to normalcy.
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