Israeli Police Locate Missing Sisters Mally and Liel in Argentina After Weeklong Search

Senior Inspector Walter Kogan, the Israeli police representative in South America, spoke on Sunday about locating sisters Mally and Liel Yahalomi in Argentina after they had been missing for about a week. Kogan described the moment of finding them, saying the sisters believed they would not be caught or found. He expressed relief and excitement that they were alive and well. Despite the success, Kogan was surprised by the extensive public exposure the case received, emphasizing that it was simply part of their job.

Police spokesperson Aryeh Doron told Kan News that the exact reason for the sisters' disappearance remains unknown. Doron explained that the police wanted the public, who had followed the search with concern, to see that the sisters were safe and healthy. He noted that there was no indication of any major incident, only minor debts.

The investigation revealed that Vienna served as a convenient transit point for the sisters due to its large transportation hub, facilitating travel across Europe. It was also discovered that Mally attempted to contact the Israeli consulate in Vienna by phone, but the call was unanswered, and the purpose of this contact remains unclear.

The sisters were found traveling by bus in Buenos Aires after local undercover police stopped the vehicle. Kogan boarded the bus and spoke with them in Hebrew, which surprised the sisters given their distance from Israel. During a brief questioning, Mally and Liel explained they wanted to disconnect from their family and country, denying any threats or extortion. They also denied fleeing due to financial debts, stating simply that they wanted to leave everything behind.