Child survivor of Italy crash to stay in Israel for now

A family court in Tel Aviv stated on Thursday that the 6-year-old sole survivor of an Italian cable car crash, who was taken by his grandfather to Israel, should stay in the country for the time being.

The first hearing in the kidnapping case of Eitan Biran concluded that he should remain in Israel until the resumption of the trial, which is scheduled for October 8, the ANSA news agency reported.

According to ANSA, Eitan's maternal relatives and his aunt Aya Biran-Nirko, who traveled from Italy to Tel Aviv for the initial hearing, will share guardianship.

Eitan's aunt said as she entered the courtroom: "I want to bring Eitan back home. I am very worried about him. I want to bring him home as soon as possible."

Tragic circumstances

The boy's Israeli parents and younger brother were among 14 people killed in May this year when a cord snapped and the emergency safety brake failed to activate on a cable car in Italy's northwestern Piedmont region.

Since then, the boy's maternal grandfather, Shmulik Peleg, has become the subject of a kidnapping probe by Italian prosecutors after he took his grandson to Israel earlier this month on a private jet.

Family must not discuss child's situation, says lawyer

The case has dominated headlines across Italy. 

Israeli media surrounded the Tel Aviv courtroom for Thursday's hearing, which was focused on interim visitation arrangements between the feuding families.

Aya Biran-Nirko's lawyer, Shmuel Moran, told reporters after the preliminary hearing that both sides had agreed on "temporary agreements," which will hold until at least October 8.

"We also agreed that there will not be any communication about the child's situation," the lawyer added.

Last week, in an interview with Israel's Channel 12 television, Peleg said Eitan was "happy and surrounded by family" and that they had left Italy in a "totally legal way."

"He is in the place where is supposed to be, in his home, in Israel," Peleg said.

Uncle: Parents wanted Eitan to grow up in Israel

Eitan's maternal uncle, Guy Peleg, told Israeli television channel Kan 11 on Tuesday that "Eitan's parents wanted him to grow up in Israel."

Eitan and his parents, Amit Biran and Tal Peleg, moved to Italy to enable Amit to study medicine. The family lived there with Eitan and his younger brother, Tom, who also died in the cable car crash.

jsi/rt (dpa, Reuters, AFP)