The disappearance of Mali and Liel Yahalomi in Vienna, which has captivated public attention in recent days, has seen an investigative development according to reports from the Israel Police. Official police sources noted on Friday that progress has been made in reviewing the timeline and activities of the two in the period preceding their disappearance. According to a report by ynet, investigation teams have succeeded in narrowing gaps regarding the mother and daughter's travel route and locations at relevant times, with hopes that this information will lead to a breakthrough.
The pair went missing about a week ago, with their mobile devices last pinged on Saturday morning near a train station in Vienna, approximately two kilometers from their apartment. Amid the ongoing uncertainty, the family of the missing individuals has expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the investigation and media reports. The family emphasized that this is an exceptional case and urged security forces not to rule out any line of inquiry, including a potential nationalist motive, particularly in light of rising antisemitism in Europe.
Conversely, reports indicate the Vienna police have stated that at this stage, there is no suspicion of a criminal event. The investigation in Israel is being conducted under a publication ban by the National Unit for Economic Crimes (YALEK) of Lahav 433. Police clarified that the unit's involvement stems from its expertise in cross-border investigations and does not indicate any specific investigative direction. As previously reported, the case sparked a wave of social media rumors that erroneously linked the disappearance to Mali Yahalomi’s role at Bank of Jerusalem.
These rumors caused a sharp decline of over 12% in the bank's stock value. Consequently, Bank of Jerusalem issued a clarification stating that no irregularities were found in bank assets or client funds, and there is no suspicion of embezzlement. The family has expressed outrage over rumors regarding funds carried by the missing women and has called for continued, intensive searches to bring them home safe and sound. As the international investigation continues, the fate of the two remains unknown, with the public awaiting further updates from law enforcement.