Mother and Daughter Return to Israel After Three-Month Disappearance Linked to Debt

Mali Yahalomi and her daughter Lial have returned to Israel after a three-month absence that began on August 4th. The family decided not to meet them at the airport to allow them peace and quiet to recover from their ordeal. Moshe Yahalomi, Mali's brother, explained that the disappearance was caused by a significant financial debt that plunged his sister into distress. He noted that while some can manage large debts, others struggle with sums as low as 200,000-300,000 shekels.

The family attempted to ascertain the debt amount from Jerusalem Bank, where Mali worked, but were denied information due to privacy laws. Moshe described his sister as a dedicated employee who received numerous commendations. He stated that Mali did not leave a note indicating an intention to disappear permanently but rather vanished due to her distress. He believes Lial chose to accompany her mother to support her during this difficult time.

The journey began with a flight to Prague on August 4th, followed by train travel to Vienna, Austria. The last contact with the family was on August 7th from an apartment in Vienna, with a video showing them in normal condition. They failed to appear for their scheduled return flight on August 11th. Austrian and Israeli police initiated a search, with the investigation eventually transferred to Lahav 433.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Mali withdrew approximately 14,000 euros in cash before her trip. Police identified preparatory actions, including deleting phone apps and data, and using old photos and videos from Vienna to create the impression they were still there after they had left. The police ruled out suspicions of embezzlement from Mali's workplace.

The mother and daughter were eventually located on a bus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by Israeli Police representative Deputy Superintendent Walter Kogan. The close bond between mother and daughter was evident in an exchange where Lial told her mother, "I will go with you everywhere." The family expressed gratitude for public support during the search and announced they would return all collected donations.

Mali and Lial Yahalomi landed in Israel on a flight from Athens, concluding their three-month absence abroad. They are not expected to be interrogated and are not required by the police.