Is there a Sephardic-Ashkenazi war behind the kidnapping of an Israeli boy in Italy?

Eitan Biran, 6, was the sole survivor of a cable car accident in Italy in May. About 14 people died, including the boy’s father, Amit Biran, mother Tal Peleg, one-year-old Tom and maternal great-grandparents Barbara Cohen Konisky and Itshak Cohen.

Following the incident, Italian authorities assigned custody of Eitan to his aunt Aya, Amit’s sister, and a doctor who lived with her family, including two daughters of Eitan’s age, in the vicinity. of Pavia, the Italian city where the Biran family had moved for more than five years. years earlier to allow Amit to study medicine as a local university.

However, in recent months, fierce controversies have arisen between Eitan’s paternal and maternal relatives, accusing the latter of holding the child “hostage” and disregarding his Israeli and Jewish identity.

On Saturday, in a dramatic development, his grandfather Shmuel Peleg picked up Eitan at his home in Pavia for a routine visit. It was later learned that the boy had been illegally taken to Israel on a private flight.

According to a report by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, his ex-wife Etty accused the Biran family of mistreating Tal.

“I don’t know why they despise us, maybe because we are Sephardic,” he said.

“I never hid my right-wing views,” he added, suggesting that the Birans, the Ashkenazi, hold opposing positions.

The Pelegians also accuse Aya of deciding to send Eitan to a Catholic school. However, the boy’s parents had sent him to the same institute Suore Canossiane in Pavia also in kindergarten in recent years. According to Aya, last January they enrolled him in the first degree, which is a common practice in Italy. At a press conference with Italian media, he also said that the Pelegs had been helping Amit and Tal pay for tuition in recent years, so they were very aware of the decision.

In Italy, as in other countries in the diaspora, it is not uncommon to send Jewish children – or children of other religions – to private religious schools that are sometimes more flexible to meet their needs than public schools.

On the other hand, Tal’s family has stated that the couple intended to return to Israel soon: Amit was about to finish his studies. They also said that was what Eitan wanted.

“The boy wanted to come back to Israel all the time,” he said. “Finally, in four months, the doctors will see him. [His aunt and uncle] he forbade my husband and I to meet with his doctors and therapists. “

He added that Eitan was undergoing extensive testing and therapies at Sheba Medical Center.

The Jerusalem Post confirmed that the boy went to Sheba to do some checks.

“After they kidnapped Eitan, you can imagine how we feel,” he added. “Eitan went out for a family visit and had to come back in the evening. We realized there was a problem when he didn’t come back. We waited a few minutes and Aya started calling. [the grandparents], and no one responded.

Speaking to Italian media, Aya also said that in the past Shmuel Peleg had been sentenced for domestic abuse against Etty before they divorced.

Shmuel is currently being investigated for kidnapping by Italian authorities. According to the Corriere della Sera, he expelled Eitan from Italy across the border with Switzerland, where documents are rarely inspected.

The question of whether money also plays a role in the war between families has also been raised by the Italian media. As the lawsuit progresses over the case in the coming months and years, it is likely that the only surviving Eitan will receive a significant sum as compensation, perhaps millions of euros.

Members of the police and rescue service are seen near the crashed cable car after it collapsed in Stresa, near Lake Maggiore, Italy, on May 23, 2021. (Credit: REUTERS)

Both families deny any interest in the financial aspect.

Meanwhile, the question of the child’s immediate future remains. The two ministries have denied an Israeli media report that the Israeli foreign and justice ministries issued a legal opinion suggesting the boy should be returned to his family in Italy.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told the Post that, although they are aware of the situation, the case does not involve any diplomatic or political aspects and therefore does not fall within the scope of their action.