Q: My wife and I are conducting negotiations over the phone regarding the possibility of her return to Israel with our three minor children (5,8, and 10). I believe this is due to the fact that I filed a lawsuit against her for the return of our children under the Hague Convention, and she is afraid of getting into trouble with the police. Is there a risk in conducting such direct negotiations without a lawyer, when there is ongoing phone contact with the children?
By: דיאנה שאלתיאל•Published on: 15 October, 2025A: Yes, it is possible that your wife is trying to trick you to agree to the children staying abroad and tape your conversation as evidence. Once you express “consent”, then it will be difficult to back down. She may make you express consent during a conversation between you without you even being aware of it, and she may try to record your phone conversations and use it as evidence against you in court, in a procedure under the Hague Convention. You must be very careful! Your attempts to reach an agreement, on your own, with your wife, regarding the return of the children to Israel, without a lawyer, may work against you and provide defense arguments for her in court to your detriment.