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Israel’s Homegrown Hostages

15 1
monday
Leaving an abusive relationship takes immense courage. It demands a leap of faith, meticulous planning, and a fierce will to rebuild. But for survivors in Israel, escaping is not the end of the battle—it’s the beginning of a new nightmare. For me, that nightmare has a name: the Stop Exit Order. This law, unique to Israel, allows one parent to prevent the other from leaving the country with their child. While it was created to prevent international child abduction, in practice, it has become a powerful tool for abusers to maintain control long after survivors flee. It traps families in a legal limbo, prolonging trauma and preventing any hope of a fresh start. More than a year ago, I made the impossible choice to leave in search of safety and stability. I believed that once we were free, we could start over. But with one signature, the past reached out and pulled us back. It didn’t matter that legal proceedings were already underway to address the history of harm. It didn’t matter that staying in Israel cut us off from the family abroad who could provide love, stability, and support. The system didn’t protect us—it protected the one who wanted to keep us from leaving. On paper, the Stop Exit Order seems reasonable. It’s designed to prevent one parent from taking their child........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)