Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been assured the case of alleged paedophile school principal Malka Leifer is being taken seriously by Israel.
It comes as Israeli Ambassador to Australia Mark Sofer made clear that prosecutors found a judge’s decision to release Ms Leifer under house arrest “incomprehensible” and believe she should be immediately extradited.
“While Israeli law courts are independent, there are very many in Israel, including the state prosecution, who find the recent legal decisions regarding Malka Leifer incomprehensible and are working avidly to overturn them,” Mr Sofer said on Twitter.
“In their eyes, the case has gone on for far too long and nothing short of full justice can be acceptable.
“Uppermost in their minds is the immediate extradition of Malka Leifer to Australia to stand trial.”
Ms Leifer, 52, is facing extradition to Australia on 74 charges of sexually assaulting female students during her time at the ultra-Orthodox Adass Israel school in Elsternwick in Melbourne’s south-east.
The ex-principal fled to Israel in 2008 after the allegations first emerged. The process to extradite her has stalled several times since charges were laid in 2013.
This week, Jerusalem District Court Judge Rom Vinograd ordered Ms Leifer be released from custody and placed under house arrest, sparking widespread outrage.
Early on Friday Australian time, Jerusalem Supreme Court Justice Anat Baron delayed Ms Leifer’s release in order to consider appeals made by both the prosecution and defence.
Read the article by Rachel Eddie and Rob Harris in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.