The mother of 3 and 5-year-old daughters in April 2014 filed a complaint with Southern District Police against their father, who she claimed violated his visitation rights and failed to bring the girls home to her. Police learned that same day that the dad had passports issued to the girls and managed to leave the country, heading for Greece. From there they flew to Turkey, Russia and eventually Thailand.
A special task force was set up involving the state prosecutor, Israel’s police attaché in Thailand, and Interpol. Police report family members of the dad, who apparently assisted him in taking the girls, tried to persuade the mom to sign a document that she consented to his taking their daughters.
As time passed police learned the father’s mental status was deteriorating as well as his funds, leading to fears for the welfare of the girls. Officials however faced a number of problems; including the fact Israel and Thailand do not maintain an extradition agreement and Thailand is not signed on the Geneva Convention. While this is going on police learned dad’s next stop was Vietnam, compelling swift action.
Police learned dad would visit the local Chabad House with the girls on erev Shabbos. Mom was flown to Thailand this past Thursday and police set agents into place to arrest dad on erev Shabbos. Local authorities arrested the dad on Friday for remaining in the country illegally, releasing him after a few hours after he committed to leave the country. While he was under arrest the girls were reunited with their mom and flown home.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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7 Responses
Not much background on the story. Gleaning from what is provided, it would seem he wanted to take his girls on a trip with him (kind of pointless to take a 3 and 5 year old on such a trip in my oppinion, but his purogative). Attempted to get the permission signed through a relative (seems he doesnt want to have dealings with ex), and she refused.
Call it violation of court proceedings, but please, if thei is a Torah site, dont simply cut and paste info calling this “abdution” or “kidnapping”!
In halakha he has every right to custody of his daughters. So kol hakavod to him. H’ should be with them all in clearning up this situation with the courts.
It looks like the Thai police wrote this article.
Wow….excellent move. Good idea for Spielberg’s next action movie.
“As time passed police learned the father’s mental status was deteriorating”
Which police? And from whom did they get this “crucial” info from?
“Thailand is not signed on the Geneva Convention”
So therefore what?
Weird story. Lacking a lot of information. I agree with comments #2 & 3, and partially #1
In Israel the sites claim he had evidence the kids were being abused and nothing was being done to stop it. Not police it social worker,
#1 Assuming the Get was handled through Beis Din custody terms would have also been set by them, so that would be a violation of a Beis Din ruling.
Also note that only after he left the country was any form of consent from the mother sought and he took the girls to countries that don’t extradite (and are known for rampant child abuse, though I sincerely hope that was not his goal).
Considering all of that and the fact his mental health is not 100% “abduction” and “kidnapping” are very appropriate words.
To PinhasErez,
In Halacha, all children until the age of six belong to the mother. After the age of six, boys belong to the father, girls belong to the mother.
In this case, the father violated both Halacha and Dina Demalchusa (laws of the land).