Mother and Daughter Return to Israel After Three-Month Disappearance

Mali Yahalomi and her daughter Liel have returned to Israel after being abroad for nearly three months. According to Mali's brother, Moshe Yahalomi, the disappearance was caused by financial difficulties that left Mali in a difficult situation. The mother and daughter arrived back in Israel yesterday, and their relatives chose not to meet them at Ben Gurion Airport to avoid adding pressure after their ordeal.

Moshe Yahalomi stated that the family has not yet met with Mali and Liel but is ready to support them when they are ready. He explained that his sister was in distress and likely did not share the extent of her problems with the family. "My sister was in trouble, and probably she decided not to share it or we were not attentive enough," he said, adding that the family does not have all the answers.

The financial issues stemmed from a debt, the exact amount of which is unknown. The family attempted to ascertain the debt amount by contacting Jerusalem Bank, where Mali was employed, but was unable to obtain information due to privacy laws. Moshe emphasized his sister's dedication to her work, noting her many commendations. He also confirmed that Mali left no note indicating she intended to disappear permanently, stating she "disappeared because of trouble."

Moshe believes Liel accompanied her mother to support her during the difficult time, recalling a message from Liel to her mother saying, "I will go with you anywhere." He also expressed gratitude to Israelis for their moral and financial support during the search, noting that all collected donations were returned.

The disappearance began on August 4, when Mali and Liel flew to Prague, then traveled by train to Vienna. They last contacted family on August 7 from an apartment in Vienna, appearing normal in a video sent to relatives. They missed their return flight on August 11, prompting searches by Austrian and Israeli police, later handled by Lahav 433. Investigators found Mali had withdrawn approximately 14,000 euros before the trip and discovered signs of preparation, including deleted phone data and the use of photos to suggest they were still in Vienna after leaving. Police ruled out theft from Mali's workplace.

The women were eventually found on a bus in Buenos Aires by Israeli police representative Lieutenant Colonel Walter Kogan. Police believe the strong bond between mother and daughter contributed to their decision to travel together. Their return to Israel yesterday concludes the incident, and police have stated they do not need to be interrogated and are not wanted.