On the day Malka Leifer's alleged victims thought they'd see a result, they saw another delay.
The Jerusalem District Court once again granted the accused child sex offender's lawyers time to cross-examine the latest psychiatric panel who deemed her mentally fit to face trial.
Tuesday's court decision came as a major blow to the alleged victims, including Dassi Erlich and Nicole Meyer.
"It's so exasperating and draining and we just don't know how much longer this can go on," Ms Erlich told SBS News.
Three of the alleged abuse victims: Elly Sapir, Dassi Ehrlich and Nicole Meyers from Melbourne, all former students of Malka Leifer. Source: AAP
The court process, now at hearing number 62, has faced numerous attempts by Leifer's attorneys to delay the possible extradition of Leifer to Australia to face 74 charges of rape and child abuse.
"The next few hearings that are scheduled will be [number] 63, 64, 65, 66," Ms Meyer told SBS News.
"That are that many hearings we have sat through waiting for this process to move on already and after last week, honestly we did not expect this. Not this many and not this far away."
Last week, the most recent court-appointed psychiatric panel of three submitted their findings stating Leifer had been feigning mental illness.
The defence specifically asked the court on Tuesday to delay the hearings, arguing the renewal of extradition proceedings "must be based on unequivocal evidence".
Rebutting this, the prosecution reminded Leifer's lawyers that the expert panel, authorised by the court, found that she is fit to stand trial.
Malka Leifer is wanted in Australia on child sex abuse charges. Source: SBS
The Zionist Federation of Australia President Jeremy Leibler further expressed frustration that the panel won't be cross-examined for another month.
"While due process must be followed, we had hoped the court was going to be expeditious due to the definitive nature of the panel's findings," Mr Leibler told AAP.
The dates have not yet been set for the cross-examination of the panel, though it is expected to be at the end of February or early March and may last for three days.
The trial continues.
