From the Liveblog of
Thursday, April 30, 2026
ICE says it arrested Israeli in New Jersey who is wanted for child sex crimes
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement says that its agents earlier this month arrested an Israeli national in Lakewood, New Jersey, who was wanted for child sex crimes in Israel.
“Following an investigation and coordination between international and US law enforcement agencies, Yechiel Yehoshua Farkash, a 43-year-old Lakewood resident, was taken into federal custody without incident April 17,” ICE says in a statement.
ICE says US authorities began pursuing Farkash after they were tipped off by Israeli authorities, which have been trying to prosecute the suspect for attempted rape and indecent acts involving children that were allegedly committed in Israel between 2020 and 2023.
Israel requested Farkash’s provisional arrest in order to have him extradited.
ICE HSI and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Yechiel Yehoshua Farkash, a foreign fugitive from Israel who was wanted in his home nation for alleged sex crimes against children. Our team arrested him at his home in Lakewood, N.J.
ICE HSI Atlantic City will coordinate with ICE… pic.twitter.com/gPzqO0r9nX
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) April 30, 2026
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