Israeli Mother and Daughter Missing in Austria as Search Expands Internationally

Nearly a week has passed since Israeli mother Mally Yahilomi, 50, and her daughter Liel, 23, were last heard from in Austria, where their disappearance is increasingly complex. The Israel Police, led by the National Unit for Combating Economic Crime (Lahav 433), continue to investigate all possibilities including accident, criminal activity, or voluntary disappearance, but have found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the two. Authorities have gathered testimonies from their acquaintances and visited Mally's workplace at Bank of Jerusalem, which denied any involvement or irregularities related to the case.

A growing assessment in Austria suggests Mally and Liel are no longer in the country, complicating search efforts. The Israel Police imposed a gag order on the investigation, while the family criticized police briefings for prematurely implying conclusions and withholding contradictory information. The family also stressed that there is currently no basis to exclude a nationalist-motivated incident.

The Bank of Jerusalem experienced a sharp drop in stock value amid rumors linking Mally to financial misconduct, which the bank firmly denied after an internal review. Meanwhile, Israeli Police Commissioner Dany Levi assigned the case to Lahav 433 and established a special command post in Austria to coordinate the search alongside local authorities. Vienna police stated there is no indication of foul play or abduction but continue searching.

Investigators are examining leads that Mally and Liel were not kidnapped and that they carried a large sum of money before traveling. Their phones were last tracked near a Vienna bus station on Saturday. The two flew from Israel to Prague, then to Vienna, where contact was lost. They missed a scheduled return flight to Israel.

The family has launched a crowdfunding campaign to finance search efforts, including hiring local professionals and covering logistical costs. They urge the public to assist and share information. The Israeli Embassy in Austria has called on anyone who encounters Mally and Liel to urge them to contact their family or the embassy’s emergency number immediately.