The disappearance of Mali and Lial Yahalomi concluded this week after Israel Police reported that the two had been located in South America. The search began after they went missing in Austria, with their mobile devices last tracked on Saturday near a train station in Vienna. The police launched an extensive search operation, involving international law enforcement cooperation, including Europol, led by Lahav 433 and the Intelligence Division. The intelligence efforts yielded results when the pair was identified on a bus in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Footage released by the police shows a representative sent to verify their safety. According to official police statements, the two acted independently, purchased alternative phones, and planned their disappearance due to personal financial issues. Following questioning by police representatives in Argentina, it was determined that they were not in danger and were not being coerced. As no criminal offense was suspected, they were cleared to continue on their way.
This incident was accompanied by significant rumors on social media, partly because the investigation was handled by the National Unit for Combating Economic Crime (YALEK). A gag order imposed mid-week further fueled speculation linking the disappearance to the mother’s role in Bank Jerusalem’s retail headquarters. Rumors regarding the bank's involvement led to a sharp drop in the bank’s stock on the stock exchange. However, Bank Jerusalem issued an official clarification stating that no findings indicated irregularities in the bank’s funds or assets, and emphasized that there was no concern regarding customer fund embezzlement.
The Yahalomi family expressed relief that they were found alive and thanked security forces and the public for their assistance. The family announced it intends to return all funds raised from the public during the search efforts, which totaled approximately 260,000 shekels.