Father who fought to prevent his 15-year-old daughter's wedding: 'It was clear to me, as long as the girl stays there - at some point she'll get married'

Father Yossi called the police after discovering that his 15-year-old daughter was about to be married in a secret wedding in the moshav of Yavneel. The girl was found at her mother's home and claimed she was not married. Police arrested those involved, but cult members were warned in advance. The father criticized the legal system and authorities for allowing the situation.

Father Yossi called the police after discovering that his 15-year-old daughter was about to be married in a secret wedding planned in the moshav of Yavneel in the Lower Galilee. The girl was found at her mother's home and claimed she was not married. Police located phones of participants in a nearby area, but they fled after being warned. Later, those involved were caught. A social worker transferred the girl to her father's custody. In an interview with Kan News, the father described frustration with the system's helplessness: the rabbinical court approved his children's move to Yavneel three years ago, despite his warning that it would lead to his daughter's marriage. He tried to appeal to the court but was rejected on technical grounds. The father revealed an organized system including wedding instructors and people who warn against the police. About a month ago, police raided targets in Yavneel in a covert investigation that uncovered a meticulous method: weddings in the early morning hours, secret location, no phones, and ceremonies disguised as engagement parties. In February this year, detectives raided a wedding and found a ketubah, rings, and a breaking glass hidden in a water tank.

Father who fought to prevent his 15-year-old daughter's wedding: 'It was clear to me, as long as the girl stays there - at some point she'll get married'