Mossad and Shin Bet Join Search as Mystery Deepens Over Mother and Daughter Missing in Vienna

Concern is growing for Mali and Liel Yahalomi, the Israeli mother and daughter who have been missing in Vienna since last Friday. At the same time, Israeli officials increasingly believe their disappearance is likely unrelated to a security incident or nationalist-motivated activity. Israeli sources familiar with the details said Wednesday that this is the current working assumption.

Over the past day, security officials conducted a series of intelligence checks in an effort to determine whether the disappearance has a security-related aspect. The Mossad is involved in the search efforts, and the Shin Bet is also assisting with the checks. However, the information gathered so far has led to the assessment that this is likely not the work of an Iranian or pro-Palestinian cell.

Accordingly, efforts are now also focusing on civilian leads. Among other things, attempts are being made to locate the two women's cellphones, and nearby hospitals were checked in recent hours to determine whether Mali and Liel had been admitted as unidentified patients. At the same time, there was an indication that location services had been erased from their phones. Israel is also examining the possibility that the mother and daughter left voluntarily and took a large sum of money with them.

The vacation apartment where the two were staying in the Austrian capital was found empty of belongings. Despite the searches and extensive publicity, Austrian police, the Israeli Embassy, and the Chabad community in Vienna have not yet received information that has provided a lead as to their whereabouts.

The investigation in Austria has been transferred to the Vienna police's central unit and to senior levels of the local police force, and every possibility is being examined — including those currently considered less likely. However, family members have not yet been questioned by Austrian police, and communication with them is being handled through the Israeli consulate, which is also involved in the search efforts.

Israel has also expanded its involvement in the investigation. Police Commissioner Danny Levy announced that the case has been transferred to Lahav 433, and a representative of the Israel Police is in Vienna. At the same time, an operations center has been opened at the Foreign Ministry to coordinate information and activities related to the disappearance.

The Israeli Embassy, the Foreign Ministry, and Austrian police appealed to the public yesterday, asking anyone who has encountered Mali or Liel, or who has information that could help locate them, to come forward urgently. So far, despite the widespread exposure, no information has been received that has led to finding them. The investigation is continuing, and officials in Israel and Austria are continuing to examine every possibility in an effort to understand what happened to the two since contact with them was lost.