The following media statement concerns the latest ruling by Israeli author­it­ies con­cern­ing Malka Leifer, former principal of Melbourne’s Adass Israel School. To download this media release in PDF format, click here.

MEDIA STATEMENT

31 January 2017

ECAJ dismayed at latest Malka Leifer ruling

The Executive Council of Aus­trali­an Jewry, the peak rep­res­ent­at­ive body of the Aus­trali­an Jewish community is pro­foundly dis­ap­poin­ted by the latest decision by Israeli author­it­ies that Malka Leifer is mentally unfit to face court hearings to determine whether she should be extra­dited to Australia to face 74 criminal charges of child sexual abuse.
This decision will cause further anguish to child sexual abuse survivors who have been demanding Ms Leifer’s extra­di­tion from Israel in their steadfast quest for some measure of justice and closure.
The ECAJ passed a res­ol­u­tion at its 2017 Annual Con­fer­ence which expressed “solid­ar­ity with all who may have suffered by reason of the conduct of Malka Leifer” and praised “the cour­ageous activism of Dassi Erlich and others on behalf of all survivors of child sexual abuse.” We called for the extra­di­tion of Malka Leifer without delay and we repeat that call at this time.
We will continue to offer whatever assist­ance we can provide to Ms Erlich and other survivors of child sexual abuse. We wish them continued strength and determ­in­a­tion in their righteous struggle and hope that the Israeli author­it­ies will see sense to compel Malka Leifer at long last to face justice.
Contact:
Peter Wertheim AM | Executive Director
ph: 02 8353 8500 | m: 0408 160 904
e: [email protected] | www.ecaj.org.au