Missing Modiin Mother and Daughter Found: A Bizarre Global Saga
A bizarre missing persons case involving a Modiin mother and daughter takes multiple twists, from Argentina to false arrest claims in Namibia, as they finally head back to Israel.
Since the establishment of the state, nearly 600 people in Israel have been classified as missing persons whose fate remains unsolved and whereabouts unknown. Every year, the Israel Police opens thousands of missing person cases that tear entire families apart.
In recent times, the public has been exposed to difficult and complex cases—such as those of Haimnut Kasau or Moishe Kleinerman, who remain missing—alongside rapid successes and closures, such as the boy Yuval Kogan who was found safe and sound, Eldar Dayan who was unfortunately located without signs of life, or Mali and Lial Yehalomi who were located in Buenos Aires.
Now, one of the most prominent cases is taking a particularly intriguing turn. As recalled, the affair began in early August when Mali (50) and her daughter Lial (23), residents of Modiin, departed for a trip to Europe. After contact with them was cut off and they failed to return to Israel on schedule, the family reported their disappearance, and extensive searches began across several countries.
Days later, the two were located in Argentina. An Israel Police representative in Latin America met with them, verified they were healthy, and confirmed they were not being held against their will. Following a brief questioning that raised no suspicion of a criminal offense, the two were permitted to continue on their way.
However, it was revealed that the drama was far from over. A nighttime report claimed that Mali and Lial were allegedly arrested with fake passports in Namibia. A Chabad rabbi who arrived to assist them was surprised to discover they were not the family members from Modiin at all, but rather Iranian citizens bearing a certain resemblance to the two, who claimed to be Israelis.
Yet, if you thought this was the final twist in the affair, you were deeply mistaken. Hours after that false report, a new revelation added a particularly surprising element to a saga that could easily fill a full Netflix series script: according to a report on Channel 12, Mali and Lial Yehalomi are now on their way back to Israel on an Israir flight making its way from Athens, Greece, to the country.
