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🇮🇱 Israel /Crime & Justice

Shin Bet involved in search for missing child Haymanot Kasau, Herzog says at meeting with parents

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Israel's President Isaac Herzog announced that the Shin Bet security agency is involved in the search for Haymanot Kasau, a child missing for over 900 days.
  • The announcement came after the Kasau family appealed to the Shin Bet chief, stating the police had no leads on their daughter's disappearance.
  • The Shin Bet's involvement is intended to utilize all available state tools to locate Haymanot, who disappeared at age nine.

President Isaac Herzog revealed on Tuesday that Israel's Shin Bet security agency is actively involved in the search for Haymanot Kasau, a nine-year-old girl who has been missing for over 900 days. Herzog made the announcement during a meeting with Haymanot's parents, assuring them of the agency's full commitment to her location.

The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanot.

— Isaac HerzogPresident Herzog's statement on the Shin Bet's involvement in the search for Haymanot Kasau.

"The Shin Bet is involved in the case and is fully committed to contributing in every way to locating Haymanot," Herzog stated. He thanked the Israel Police for their extensive efforts, working in conjunction with the Shin Bet, and expressed hope for positive news. The President learned of the agency's involvement after the Kasau family sent a written appeal to Shin Bet chief David Zini on Monday. In their letter, the family expressed their despair, noting that after 911 days, the police had no information or theories regarding their daughter's whereabouts.

I thank the Israel Police for making a huge effort together with the Shin Bet and hope that we will receive good news.

— Isaac HerzogPresident Herzog expressing gratitude to law enforcement agencies involved in the search.

Haymanot disappeared on February 25, 2024, near the Safed Jewish Agency absorption center after school. President Herzog emphasized Haymanot's status as a "child of the people of Israel," highlighting the widespread concern for her safety. He assured the family that the state is employing all its resources as a top priority for its enforcement agencies. The Kasau family, however, has voiced suspicions of discrimination, citing language barriers or skin color as potential reasons for difficulties in getting the Shin Bet involved earlier. Haymanot's sister, Yeros, shared the emotional toll the prolonged uncertainty has taken on her, describing how her own life has been overshadowed by the search for her sister.

For 911 days, we have been waiting and hoping for our daughter Haymanot to return. Today, Israel Police has no information, direction, or theory as to what happened to our daughter.

— Kasau familyThe family's written appeal to the Shin Bet chief detailing their distress and lack of progress from the police.

Army Radio later reported that the Shin Bet's involvement does not necessarily indicate a nationalistic motive for the disappearance, as the agency typically investigates cases with such implications or threats to state institutions. The report also questioned the consistency of the Shin Bet's involvement with its legal mandate.

The State of Israel is using all the tools at its disposal to locate Haymanot. This is a top priority for the enforcement agencies.

— Isaac HerzogPresident Herzog assuring the family of the state's commitment to finding Haymanot.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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