Missing Israelis Vienna: Mother and Daughter Disappear

The Yahalomi family is experiencing growing concern after Mali and Liel Yehalomi, a mother and daughter from Israel, disappeared in Vienna last Friday. The two had traveled to the Austrian capital for a short vacation, but all contact with them ceased as Shabbat began, and they have not been heard from since.

On Tuesday evening, the Israeli Embassy in Austria issued an urgent public appeal for assistance in locating the two Israeli citizens. According to the embassy's statement, anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to contact the emergency number +436763672304 immediately, or to reach out to local Austrian police.

Amir Rodnik, Mali's brother-in-law, described the last communication the family had with the missing women in an interview with Kan News this morning. "On Friday, before Shabbat came in, we were messaging with them in the family group chat. They wrote, 'We've arrived at the apartment, look what a cool apartment, Shabbat Shalom to everyone.' Since then, silence," he said.

The mother and daughter were scheduled to return to Israel on Tuesday evening aboard an El Al flight that departed Vienna at 9:46 p.m. local time. However, the two never showed up for the flight, and fears for their safety are mounting. At present, authorities have no leads regarding the reason for their disappearance or their current location.

The incident comes during peak tourist season, when large numbers of Israelis are traveling to Europe, particularly to Austria. According to Israel Airports Authority data, more than 55,000 Israelis visited the country in the past month alone, with approximately 42,000 of them arriving in the capital city of Vienna.

Vienna has become an increasingly popular tourist destination for Israelis. Just months ago, Chief Sephardic Rabbi David Yosef visited the city as part of a tour to strengthen Jewish communities across Europe. The city also serves as a global hub for international organizations and has gained a reputation in recent years as a center of international espionage activity due to its extensive diplomatic presence.