"I will go with you anywhere": The correspondence between Meli and Liel discovered in the investigation
The police accessed a mobile correspondence between the mother and her daughter, which strengthened the understanding that Liel Yaalomi knew of the mother's escape plan and joined it of her own free will. The mother and daughter deleted apps and performed actions on their phones intended to make them difficult to locate. They also used Gemini and asked questions that may be related to route planning.
The police continue to investigate the disappearance of Meli Yaalomi and her daughter Liel. During the investigation on Saturday, a correspondence was located between the daughter and her mother regarding their escape plan. The daughter wrote to her mother that she accepted the offer, adding: "I will go with you anywhere." This strengthened the understanding that the daughter knew of the mother's escape plan and joined it of her own free will.
A police source told N12 that Meli and Liel had debts. Two units with complementary capabilities worked on the investigation. Two command centers were established: one in the Vienna area and the other in Israel, within Lahav 433. Lahav went into action under the guidance of the Police Commissioner, with hundreds of investigators and intelligence personnel involved in the search.
It became clear early on that this was a well-planned disappearance. The mother and daughter deleted apps and performed actions on their phones to make them difficult to locate. They also used Gemini to ask questions related to route planning. It is believed the mother had traveled abroad several times previously to study the area. Police suspect they may have even been instructed along the way.
Authorities checked their family and economic background, finding no signs of domestic violence or threats. They were a normative mother and daughter who worked and earned a salary. The mother worked at Bank Jerusalem, which initially raised suspicions of a criminal or economic motive, similar to the Eti Alon affair, but this was not confirmed. However, the mother withdrew at least 50,000 shekels in cash, which strengthened the assessment that she was planning a prolonged disappearance.
From Vienna to Argentina: The Escape Route
The pair passed through Vienna, likely because it is a central European rail hub, allowing them to split off to different destinations unnoticed. They left behind signs to create the impression they were still in the city using specific apps. By the time local police announced their disappearance, Israeli investigators knew they were not in Vienna. From the Austrian capital, they continued to Frankfurt and sent the family false documentation supposedly filmed in Vienna to hide their true plan. From there, they continued to Argentina.
Walter's Mission and the Bus Conversation
After information was received that Meli and Liel were heading to Argentina, an Israeli representative based in Mexico, Walter, was scrambled and arrived almost simultaneously with their landing. It turned out they had boarded a bus and were planning to move within 20 hours to another destination, which is prohibited for publication. In that location, it is easy to obtain fake passports, and there is no extradition agreement with Israel. Investigators believe they wanted to start a new life, obtain fake documents, change names, and go under the radar.
Walter located the bus while local police in Argentina waited nearby. The mother and daughter were taken off the bus for questioning, during which they stated they left for personal reasons they did not wish to detail. The police emphasize that the location was achieved solely by the police, without contacting the Mossad or the Shin Bet.
