The children, both girls, were 4 _ and 1 at the date of the alleged wrongful retention. The parents were married. Until the family moved to England in September 1992 the girls had spent their entire lives in Israel.
The parents came to England to take up research posts. Although the length of their stay was the subject of dispute, it was conceded that the family would remain for at least one year. On 24 January 1993 the father moved out of the family home in England.
On 22 April 1993 the father returned to Israel permanently. On 11 June 1993 the father issued Convention proceedings for the return of the girls.
