After divorcing my husband I made ‘aliyah’ to Israel from Zimbabwe with my children, after gaining the necessary court permission. My ex-husband and I agreed that when the children were older they could visit him out there. Recently my son celebrated his Bar Mitzvah and as a present his father sent him return tickets to Zimbabwe where he planned to take him on safari. My son went – but has not returned. What can I do ?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 02 June, 2022The 1980 Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction has been in force between Israel and Zimbabwe since October 1997 . A mother living in Israel who claims her custody rights have been infringed by the wrongful retention of a minor child by his father in Zimbabwe can bring an application for his return under the convention. The application, if successfully processed, will be heard by an appropriate court in Zimbabwe. The general rule behind the convention is for a minor under 16 who has been wrongfully removed or retained to be returned to the country in which he normally lives