Over 800 days after the disappearance of Haymanut Kasau, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency announced on Wednesday that they will allocate a budget of approximately 400,000 shekels for a new public campaign to raise awareness in the search for the girl who went missing in February 2024.
The campaign is expected to appear on billboards and social media and will also include a cash reward for anyone who provides information leading to her location.
The announcement was made during a discussion of the Knesset’s Aliyah, Integration, and Diaspora Affairs Committee. Committee chairman MK Gilad Kariv (The Democrats) criticized the delay in launching the campaign, saying, “The Aliyah and Integration Ministry committed to a public campaign to increase awareness in the search for Haymanut. I request clear answers on why we still do not see such a campaign. I ask to receive the timelines for launching the campaign by this coming Sunday.”
According to Dani Adno Ababa, spokesperson for the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, “We have held several joint meetings with the Jewish Agency regarding the campaign for Haymanut Kasau. We aim to create a campaign emphasizing that Haymanut is a child for all of us, including offering a cash reward for anyone providing effective information.” He added that a company has already been selected to produce the campaign and that its budget will be approximately 400,000 shekels, jointly funded by the ministry and the Jewish Agency.
Haymanut’s father, Tesfaye Kasau, said during the discussion, “I thank everyone involved in the effort to find my daughter. I thought the Aliyah and Integration Ministry would present the campaign today, but it has not happened. We have been demanding to see a meaningful campaign for two years. We are in direct contact with the ministry and the Jewish Agency and ask them to apply the necessary pressure to find my daughter.”
Activists criticize delay over missing girl campaign
Activists in the Haymanut campaign have voiced criticism over the delay. Daniel Mahart, a social activist at the campaign headquarters, told Maariv, “For two years and three months, the family has demanded that the Jewish Agency and the Integration Ministry assist them in a campaign to engage the public. I really hope this campaign will be effective and helpful. Right now, the family is still in distress, with no signs of life regarding their child.”
Mahart added that protests continued on Wednesday in front of Lahav 433 in Lod and at the Tzabar junction in Kiryat Motzkin to pressure investigators. “The goal is to pressure the investigation authorities to do their work. The family is not receiving sufficient answers,” he claimed.
He said one key complaint is that updates on the investigation were not initially shared with the family: “Last week, new leads and evidence were reported. The family learned about it through the media. It was not communicated to them directly.” He added, “There is public support, but we want more involvement. It is important for the public to understand that, to date, there are no answers, and the struggle must continue until Haymanut returns home.”
Knesset member disappointed in delay
MK Tsega Melaku (Likud) also expressed disappointment with the delay, noting that despite the time that has passed, no major public campaign has been launched. Kariv announced that a follow-up discussion will be held next week, during which the ministry is expected to present the campaign itself, as well as a private conversation with the Kasau family to explore ways to expand support.
Meanwhile, more than two years after Haymanut’s disappearance, the family and campaign activists warn that without a breakthrough in the investigation and sustained public pressure, there is concern that the case will remain unresolved.
