Hodaya Monsonego, 24, who has been detained in Peru since August 2019, has been released and will return to Israel, the Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday night.
Monsonego, who is cognitively impaired, was jailed in Peru for 10 months on charges of drug smuggling, and was released to house arrest in May 2020. The court in Peru finally authorized her release on Wednesday and permitted her to return to Israel
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid personally worked with the Israeli Embassy in Peru and the Foreign Ministry on this sensitive subject ever since assuming office, the statement said.
בשבוע הראשון שלי במשרד מיניתי צוות מיוחד לטיפול בשחרורה של הודיה מונסונגו ועבדתי איתם צמוד. לא נחגוג לפני שנראה אותה נוחתת בארץ, אבל מותר כבר קצת לשמוח. בשבילי להגן ולשמור על צעירים עם צרכים מיוחדים זו חלק ממשימת חיי. אני מודה לשגרירות ישראל בפרו על הרתמותם למשימה. pic.twitter.com/6LzhQ8be6o
— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) August 18, 2021
“In my first week in office, I assembled a special team to coordinate Hodaya’s release, which I followed closely,” he said. “We won’t celebrate until we see her land in Israel, but we can be a little happy.”
Lapid has a daughter with special needs with whom he often shares stories on social media.
The foreign minister spoke with Hodaya on the phone, telling her that when she returns, they will both host a Hodaya feast – a traditional Jewish celebration to give thanks, often following struggles that ended safely.
“For me, protecting youth with special needs is a part of my life’s mission,” Lapid said.