Eitan Biran, an orphaned six-year-old
child who was the only survivor of the Mottarone mountain
cable-car disaster in May, returned to Italy on Friday after the
Israeli supreme court on Monday rejected an appeal by his
grandfather who took him from Italy to Israel against awarding
custody to his Italy-based paternal aunt.
Eitan left Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport for Rome with the aunt,
Aya Biran Nirko, her husband Or and their two daughters shortly
after seven o'clock ppm local time.
A family spokesan said "Eitan is coming home with his aunt,
which is next to the house where he grew up since he was a month
old, the home of his deceased parents, which is also close to
the home of his father's grandparents who are awaiting his
return".
A Tel Aviv family court ruled on October 25 that Eitan be
returned to the care of his Italian-based paternal aunt, Aya
Biran, saying that his habitual residence was in Italy.
Shmuel Peleg, the maternal grandfather, unsuccessfully appealed
against the ruling and one by another Israeli court.
Italy has requested the extradition of Peleg and his male
accomplice in taking Eitan out of the country, but Israel does
not extradite its own citizens.
Eitan's parents, great-grandparents and two-year-old brother
were among the 14 victims of the disaster.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA