Israel extradites Malka Leifer to Australia

I sat in a Jerusalem court for dozens of court dates, watching the build-up of frustration among state prosecutors, activists, and, on several occasions, the sisters alleging abuse who had flown in from Australia. The pain of Dassi Erlich, Nicole Meyer and Elly Sapper at the drawn-out proceedings was palpable. And there was nothing anyone could say to reassure them.

The case hinged on Israel’s state prosecutors proving a negative, namely that Leifer was not mentally ill, and time and time again as they appeared to make progress, the defence team presented arguments or expert witnesses to dispute this conclusion.

There were endless twists and turns, including a police recommendation in 2019 that then-deputy health minister Yaakov Litzman was indicted for allegedly pressuring state psychiatrists to declare Leifer unfit for trial. Mr Litzman denied wrongdoing.

The cycle of indecision in the case was broken in the last year as the judge gathered more expert opinions and made a final decision in May that Leifer was mentally fit to face extradition proceedings, which took place in September. Leifer was approved for extradition, the Supreme Court rejected the inevitable appeal from her lawyers, and the Justice Minister signed the extradition order.

The drama is over — or rather, the Israel episode, is over. The deep friction that the chaotic proceedings caused between Israel and the Australian Jewish community, and on a diplomatic level between Jerusalem and Canberra, can start to heal. And for abuse survivors everywhere, it is encouraging to see that progress can be made even in a seemingly intractable case.

But for the sisters, this is just step one in their attempt to heal. They now face the prospect of an emotionally-wrenching trial in Victoria.

They prayed for the wheels of justice to turn, but it will still be a deeply painful process.