Missing Israeli Mali and Liel Yahalomi Found Safe in Argentina After International Police Search

 Israeli police said Friday evening that Meli and Liel Yahalomi, who had been reported missing during a trip abroad, were located safely in Argentina following an extensive international search.

The two women were identified aboard a bus in Buenos Aires by Israeli police representatives operating in South America. Police said their whereabouts were established following intelligence gathered by Lahav 433 and the Intelligence Division of the Israel Police.

According to the police, the investigation indicated that the women had deliberately left Austria and had purchased replacement mobile phones as part of a plan to travel abroad. Investigators said the circumstances were related to personal financial matters.

Following questioning, the women were released after police determined that there was no suspicion of a criminal offense.

Police: Women left Austria voluntarily

A police official said that the women had left voluntarily and that an Israeli police representative had verified that they were not in danger, were not being threatened and were free to continue their journey.

Footage released by the Israel Police showed an officer boarding a bus in Buenos Aires and approaching the two women.

“Hi Meli, hi Liel. I’m Walter, a police representative in South America, from the Intelligence Division of the Israel Police,” the officer told them. “We were very worried about you.”

The officer then asked the other passengers to leave the bus before speaking with the women privately.

Lahav 433 led international search

Police said the intelligence that led to the women's discovery was obtained by Lahav 433 and that the key indication regarding their location was received only hours before they were located.

Under the direction of Israel Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Danny Levy, Lahav 433 and the Intelligence Division operated command centers in Israel and abroad around the clock.

According to the police, hundreds of investigative actions were carried out as part of the search, involving the allocation of extensive intelligence and operational resources.

The investigation also involved Europol and police organizations in several countries.

“After extensive efforts and joint work by all the relevant parties, including Europol and additional police organizations abroad, the missing women were located,” the Israel Police said.

Police representatives operating overseas had conducted investigative and intelligence operations in several countries before the women were ultimately located in Argentina.

Search followed movements across Europe

The women were last located by their mobile devices on Saturday morning near a railway station in Vienna. The station was approximately two kilometers from the apartment where they had been staying.

At the time, Austrian police said there was no indication of a criminal incident.

Earlier this week, Austrian authorities said the women had left the country on their own and that there was no evidence indicating a violent crime.

Local media reports had suggested that the women traveled from Austria to Germany and subsequently to South America, although some of those reports had not been independently confirmed.

Israeli investigators said that during the past several days they had succeeded in reconstructing additional parts of the women's movements and narrowing gaps concerning their whereabouts during the relevant period.

Investigation sparked speculation

The disappearance generated widespread speculation in Israel after a court order prohibiting publication was issued on Wednesday.

The investigation was being handled by the National Economic Crime Investigation Unit within Lahav 433.

The secrecy surrounding the investigation triggered rumors on social media linking the case to Meli Yahalomi's employment at the retail division of Bank of Jerusalem.

Those rumors contributed to a sharp decline in the bank's shares, which fell by more than 12% before recovering some of the losses.

Bank of Jerusalem subsequently said that there was no finding indicating any irregular activity involving the bank's funds, assets or customers' money, and emphasized that there was no concern regarding the embezzlement of customer funds.

Family: “An enormous sense of relief”

The Yahalomi family expressed relief following the discovery of the two women.

“Above all, the family feels an enormous sense of relief that Meli and Liel have been located and are alive,” the family said.

The family thanked the Israeli public for its concern and support, as well as the Israel Police, the Israeli consulate in Vienna, Magen and the friends and rescuers who assisted in the search.

The case is now expected to shift from an international missing-person investigation to an examination of the circumstances surrounding the women's decision to leave Austria and travel to South America.