Israeli Mother and Daughter Missing in Vienna as Mossad Joins Search Efforts

The search for Mally and Liel Yahalomi, an Israeli mother and daughter who disappeared nearly six days ago in Vienna, Austria, continues amid growing concern. Reports from the Austrian news site Heute indicate that the Israeli Mossad is involved in the investigation to locate the two, who were last seen last Friday in Vienna. Mally, 50, and her daughter Liel had embarked on a surprise trip organized by Liel, intended as a birthday gift for Mally, with planned stays in Prague and Vienna. The family, including Mally's brother Ronen Yahalomi who traveled to Austria to assist with the search, remains in close contact with local authorities, the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and the Jewish community in Vienna.

The family has criticized Israeli police for prematurely suggesting conclusions about the disappearance, emphasizing that some police-released information contradicts what they know. Recent police findings suggest the mother and daughter may have left voluntarily, citing deleted phone location data and possible large cash withdrawals before their disappearance. The investigation has been transferred to Israel's national fraud unit, Lahav 433, which requested and received a gag order on the case details. Authorities are exploring all possibilities, including non-criminal motives, with cooperation between Israeli and Austrian security agencies.

The case has also impacted the stock market, with Bank of Jerusalem shares, where Mally worked in a senior financial oversight role, dropping over 12% amid rumors. The bank has officially stated no irregularities or customer fund misappropriation have been found. The last known footage of Mally and Liel shows them happy in their rented Vienna apartment shortly before the Sabbath, with their phones last pinged near a public park close to Vienna’s central train station during the Sabbath, raising further questions. Investigators continue to analyze all data carefully as the search and inquiry proceed.