Woman falls to her death from window in Haifa; ex-husband and landlord arrested

A 45-year-old woman fell to her death Tuesday from the window of a residential building in Haifa, and two men — her ex-husband, 44, and landlord, 46 — were arrested on suspicion of involvement in her death, police said.

The woman was found dead on the street, prompting a police investigation that quickly led to the arrest of the two men.

The pair are suspected of confining the woman, causing her death and conspiring to commit a crime, police said Wednesday, adding that the landlord was also suspected of using a property for prostitution.

At a hearing at the Haifa Magistrate’s Court Wednesday morning, police asked for the landlord to be remanded for eight days, and for the ex-husband to be remanded for 10 days.

Separately, police on Wednesday arrested a woman on suspicion of involvement in the killing of her 68-year-old mother in Herzliya. The victim’s husband had already been arrested shortly after the killing on Tuesday.

The victim’s husband, 70, confessed to committing the homicide, saying he stabbed his wife to death with a kitchen knife.

Activists have long complained that not enough is done to prevent domestic violence in Israel.

A study by the Hebrew University-based Israel Observatory on Femicide examining the first half of 2022 found a 71 percent increase in femicide relative to the same period last year — 12 deaths compared to seven.

In July, Prime Minister Yair Lapid addressed the scourge of violence against women, saying it was “a stain on the country and it cannot continue.”

The Welfare Ministry operates a round-the-clock emergency helpline for women in danger of domestic abuse. Members of the public who fear a woman may be in danger can also call the helpline, which offers Hebrew, Arabic Russian and Amharic language services at 077-9208560.