The child, a boy, was about approximately 2 _ at the date of the alleged wrongful retention. The child was born while the parents were serving in the United States Armed Forces in Germany. The parents were married and had joint rights of custody. In June 2000, the father was transferred to the U.S. Embassy in Israel. The mother and child were stationed in Israel as dependants.
In October 2000 the mother and child returned to Germany as a result of a military order. She and the child remained in Germany with the father’s consent. The father alleged that an arrangement had been reached that the mother would return to Israel with the child after serving her reserve duty.
In November 2000 the mother filed a petition to allow her to leave her tour of duty early and return to the United States with the child. On 18 December 2000 the father petitioned the German court for the return of the child to Israel under the Convention.
