Police Find Decomposed Body Near Yarkon Interchange Amid Eldar Dayan Disappearance Investigation

During the ongoing search for missing man Eldar Dayan, police discovered a decomposed body this morning near the Yarkon Interchange close to Petah Tikva in central Israel. The body was found in an open area and has been transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification and to determine the cause of death. Authorities have not yet confirmed the identity of the body, and it remains a suspicion that it could be Dayan.

Dayan's family expressed anger over the police handling of the investigation, criticizing the lack of communication about the discovery. They said Dayan's mother waited from early morning for updates but was not informed about the body, despite reports that it was being examined as possibly his. The family hopes the body is not Dayan's and that he is still in hiding, although they see no reason for him to flee. At the scene, Dayan's mother reportedly pleaded with police not to remove the body without her consent.

Meanwhile, the court extended the detention of two of Dayan's friends for the third time. They are suspected of involvement in a violent fight in Petah Tikva against five local youths, including an attempt to run them over. They also allegedly threatened to kill Dayan during the incident. Investigators are examining whether these threats are connected to Dayan's disappearance.

The violent altercation began when Dayan and two others from Dimona met with the local youths, escalating quickly into a physical fight. The suspects reportedly tried to run over their opponents and lightly injured some. They abandoned their car at a gas station, removed its license plates to cover their tracks, and fled. While two friends returned to Dimona and were arrested, Dayan disappeared and is believed to be hiding in an apartment near Petah Tikva.

Police continue to investigate new leads, including phone connections, as they work to clarify the circumstances surrounding Dayan's disappearance and the identity of the found body.