Australian man barred from leaving Israel until 31 December 9999

After his Israeli spouse launched a divorce lawsuit against him, an Australian citizen was prevented from leaving Israel, locking him within the country for approximately 8000 years.

Noam Huppert, 44, has been summoned by a court to either pay more than $3 million in future child support or be prevented from leaving the country until December 31, 9999, according to information.com.au.

The Australian relocated to Israel in 2012 to be closer to her two younger children after her estranged husband returned to the country and filed a divorce lawsuit in an Israeli court under "draconian and severe" divorce legislation, according to human rights campaigners.

"I've been imprisoned in Israel since 2013," he said, adding that he is one of the Australian residents who has been "persecuted by the Israeli 'court' system merely because they were married to Israeli girls."

As per the website, the court has given a "stay-of-exit" order against him, prohibiting him from leaving the country even for vacation or employment until he pays "future debt" for the upkeep of his two children until they reach the age of 18.

He now wants to tell his tale to the rest of the world in order to "help other Australians who may face this very life-threatening experience."

According to an unbiased British journalist who has been working on the issue to raise awareness, many Australians could be coping with the same problem.

In a 2013 piece in the Times of Israel, blogger Adam Herscu, who focuses on gender issues, referred to the foreigner travel ban and domestic law norms as "draconian."

"Should you plan on relocating to Israel and starting a household there, you should be aware that the household laws are draconian and excessively discriminatory against males – that there are good chances that you will be treated as a prisoner and relegated to the position of customer (slash) ATM," he wrote.