Yahalomi mother, daughter located, police say
A senior police source told N12 News that police in Buenos Aires questioned the mother and daughter and determined they were traveling voluntarily and were not in danger.
Israeli mother Mali Yahalomi and her daughter Liel were discovered alive on an intercity bus in Buenos Aires on Friday night, according to the Israel Police. This discovery came one week after the women disappeared in Vienna, an event that has captivated the nation.
The police are still examining the events surrounding the women's journey, particularly their decision to travel from Europe to Argentina without communication with Israeli authorities. The couple left Israel for Prague, then Vienna, and ultimately reached Buenos Aires. According to reports, they had recorded videos for their family in Vienna but sent them after leaving the country, which made it seem as though they were still in Vienna.
Police speculate that the women's travel was tied to personal financial issues. Mali and Liel Yahalomi sought a fresh start and wanted to change their identity, according to KAN. Mali reportedly said to an investigator that she wanted a new beginning.
A video of the police officer in South America, Walter Alejandro Kogan, talking to Mali and Liel quickly went viral in Israel, becoming a social media sensation. Kogan interviewed the women briefly to confirm their safety and check for any signs of criminal involvement. As there were no indications of wrongdoing, the police allowed them to continue on their journey.
The women's family and Mali's brother expressed their happiness upon hearing the news of their safe arrival. They acknowledged the funds raised through a crowdfunding campaign would be returned to donors. The family also stated that their primary relief was knowing that the two women were safe.
Israel Police thanked various security agencies and international bodies, including Lahav 433 – The National Crime Unit, the Police Intelligence Division, and Europol, for their assistance in finding the missing women. Under the leadership of Police Commissioner Dan Levy, the police conducted extensive operations in Israel and abroad, working around the clock and allocating all necessary resources to locate them.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
