Israeli mother Mali Yahalomi and her daughter, Liel, were found alive in Argentina on Friday night, the Israel Police confirmed, one week after their disappearance in Vienna, in a case that has gripped Israel.
The mother and daughter were found on an intercity bus in Buenos Aires.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the trip, including why the two women traveled from Europe to Argentina and did not make contact while police were trying to locate them.
They left Israel for Prague, continued to Vienna, apparently traveled through Frankfurt and eventually reached Buenos Aires, where they were located.
Police suspect the two recorded videos for their family in Vienna but sent them after leaving the country, creating the impression they were still there, Ynet reported. The investigation also reportedly found that their travel was connected to personal financial circumstances.
The two women wanted a fresh start
According to KAN, the two women had planned to change their identity and establish new lives. According to the report, Mali told the investigator who found them that she wanted a fresh start.
Israel Police released a video of the its police representative in South America, Walter Alejandro Kogan, approaching Mali and Liel on the bus.
“Hi Mali, hi Liel. I’m Walter, the police representative in South America, OK? From the Israel Police Intelligence Division.”
“I want to ask you a few questions. We were very worried about you, OK?” the officer continued. “I’m going to get everyone off the bus, and then we’ll talk, OK?”
Kogan’s brief Hebrew exchange with the women quickly went viral in Israel, inspiring memes about the officer and making him a social media star.
Kogan questioned them briefly to establish that they were safe and determine whether there was any indication that a crime had been committed.
With no suspicion of criminal conduct involving the mother and daughter, police allowed them to continue their journey.
“The two left voluntarily. The police representative ensured that there was no danger to their lives, and that they were not threatened and could continue on their way,” a police source told Ynet.
Representatives of the family and Mali’s brother told N12 news site that they were very happy to learn that the women had been found alive.
They said questions remained but stressed that their immediate relief was knowing the two were safe.
The family also said that funds raised through a crowdfunding campaign would be returned to donors.
Police thank security agencies, international bodies for assistance in locating Mali and Liel
Israel Police said in a statement that it was grateful for the cooperation of the numerous security agencies and international bodies involved in efforts to locate the missing women, including Lahav 433 – The National Crime Unit, the Police Intelligence Division, and Europol.
“Under the direction of Police Commissioner Dan Levy, the police, led by Unit 433 and the Police Intelligence Division, conducted extensive operations in Israel and abroad, operating 24/7, and allocating all necessary resources to locate them, carrying out hundreds of investigative actions,” the statement said.
Israel Police confirmed that its representatives had been operating in several countries under the direction of the police commissioner, conducting extensive investigative efforts and utilizing intelligence capabilities that ultimately led to the discovery of the missing women in Argentina.