search
Malka Leifer
Judge Chana Lomp (Supreme Court)
February 18, 2020, 12:35 pm
Judge allows Leifer lawyers to submit extra testimony, further stretching trial
Doctors who already testified for defense can again submit psychiatric opinions, despite court-ordered panel having found alleged sex abuser fit for extradition to Australia
By Jacob Magid
President Reuven Rivlin speaks at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, on February 17, 2020. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
February 17, 2020, 8:43 pm
President to make first official visit to Australia
Reuven Rivlin will also stop in Fiji Islands for a summit with leaders, sign visa waiver agreement; a stopover in Los Angeles will see president honored at UCLA
By Stuart Winer and TOI staff
In this photo from February 27, 2018, Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)
From the WebFebruary 13, 2020, 4:39 pm
Australian MPs plead for Israel to extradite Malka Leifer
Parliament motion laments Israel’s inability to send the suspected sex offender to Australia despite 60 court hearings over 5 years, the Australian Jewish News reports
Former principal Malka Leifer, wanted in Australia for child sex abuse crimes, seen at the Jerusalem District Court, February 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
January 14, 2020, 9:54 pm
Malka Leifer’s attorneys accused of dragging out extradition hearings
Defense asks that separate hearings be held to cross-examine each of the 3 doctors who evaluated alleged sex abuser and only agrees to dates in late February and early March
By Jacob Magid
In this photo from February 27, 2018, Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)
January 13, 2020, 3:21 pm
Israel seeks to speed up extradition of Malka Leifer in sex abuse case
Justice Ministry says psychiatric panel’s conclusion that alleged pedophile faked mental illness ‘removed obstacles that stood in the way’ of sending her back to Australia
By Josef Federman
In this photo from February 27, 2018, Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)
January 9, 2020, 4:50 pm
Panel finds accused sex abuser Leifer fit to stand trial, feigned mental illness
Court-ordered medical board will present findings at hearing next week, ahead of judge’s decision on whether to move forward with extraditing alleged serial pedophile to Australia
By Jacob Magid
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of the United Torah Judaism party arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 2, 2019. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
January 1, 2020, 6:19 pm
Australian Jewish leaders appeal to Netanyahu to reconsider Litzman appointment
Executive Council of Australian Jewry warns of grave questions regarding handling of case of alleged child sexual abuser Malka Leifer, says Israel’s reputation sullied by promotion
By henry Benjamin
Michael J. Salamon
December 30, 2019, 12:53 pm
Michael J. Salamon
Israel’s Malka Leifer problem
Shockingly, many childhood sexual abusers who come to Israel make no attempt to hide or even desist in their perverse behaviors
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman at the ceremony for the opening of a new branch of his Agudath Israel party, ahead of the upcoming elections, in the northern city of Safed, July 4, 2019. (David Cohen/Flash90)
December 29, 2019, 2:40 pm
Cabinet okays Litzman as health minister, drawing fury of Australia’s Jews
Head of Australian Jewry writes angry letter to Netanyahu after UTJ head promoted from deputy post despite accusations he took steps to block extradition of Malka Leifer
By Jacob Magid
Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman at an election night event in Petah Tikva for his United Torah Judaism party, September 18, 2019. (Shlomi Cohen/Flash90)
December 28, 2019, 2:53 pm
Australian Jews slam pending appointment of Litzman as health minister
Head of country’s top pro-Israel group calls elevating the lawmaker to full minister an ‘insult’ to victims of accused sex offender he allegedly worked to shield from extradition
By TOI staff and Jacob Magid
In this photo from February 27, 2018, Malka Leifer, right, is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean, File)
December 28, 2019, 9:09 am
Drawn-out legal saga in sex crimes case rattles Israel-Australia ties
Ex-head of Jewish group says alleged victims dealt ‘further trauma,’ Israeli institutions ‘undermined’ by failure of repeated hearings to rule if Malka Leifer can be extradited
By Tia Goldenberg
Former principal Malka Leifer, wanted in Australia for child sex abuse crimes, seen at the Jerusalem District Court, February 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
December 10, 2019, 10:47 am
Doctors fail to rule on Malka Leifer’s mental fitness, missing deadline
Hearing on conclusion of psychiatric board, appointed to rule on whether alleged child rapist is feigning mental illness to avoid extradition, is moved to January 14
By Jacob Magid
A private investigator tagged Malka Leifer as she spoke on the phone, while sitting on a bench in Bnei Brak, on December 14, 2017. (Screen capture/YouTube)
December 3, 2019, 6:28 pm
Rejecting appeal, top court says Leifer must appear before key medical panel
Psychiatric board set to hand down ruling next week on whether alleged child rapist is feigning mental illness to avoid extradition to Australia
By Jacob Magid
Former principal Malka Leifer, wanted in Australia for child sex abuse crimes, seen at the Jerusalem District Court, February 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
October 31, 2019, 4:26 pm
Court to compel alleged pedophile Leifer to undergo psychiatric evaluation
Ruling comes after defense informed judges she won’t cooperate with panel ordered to determine whether she’s feigning mental illness to avoid extradition
By Jacob Magid
Former principal Malka Leifer, wanted in Australia for child sex abuse crimes, seen at the Jerusalem District Court, February 14, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)
October 29, 2019, 7:44 pm
Accused sex abuser Malka Leifer refuses to appear before key psychiatric panel
Defense demands judge alone decide if the ex-principal is mentally fit for extradition to Australia, claims enough evidence exists and court-ordered board can’t be trusted
By Jacob Magid
Load More
Join us!
A message from the Editor of Times of Israel
David Horovitz

For as little as $6 a month, you can help support our independent journalism — and enjoy an ADS-FREE experience, as well as special benefits and status as a Times of Israel Community member!

Read more

The Times of Israel covers one of the most complicated, and contentious, parts of the world. Determined to keep readers fully informed and enable them to form and flesh out their own opinions, The Times of Israel has gradually established itself as the leading source of independent and fair-minded journalism on Israel, the region and the Jewish world.

We've achieved this by investing ever-greater resources in our journalism while keeping all of the content on our site free.

Unlike many other news sites, we have not put up a paywall. But we would like to invite readers who can afford to do so, and for whom The Times of Israel has become important, to help support our journalism by joining The Times of Israel Community.

So join now - and for as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel website ADS FREE on desktop and mobile, as well as special benefits and status as a Times of Israel Community member.

* The ADS-FREE experience will still show sponsored content. It will become available on the TOI smartphone app in the near future.

Join the times of israel community Join our community Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this