An elderly rabbi wanted in Israel on sexual abuse charges is to appeal to the Supreme Court against his extradition, news agency ANP says on Friday.

Last week, a lower court ruled Eliezer Berland (77) could be sent back to Israel to stand trial. He was arrested at Schiphol airport in September 2014,

The claims against the rabbi first emerged in 2012 and since then he has managed to keep out of Israel’s hands, spending time in the US, Switzerland, Morocco, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The extradition hearing was delayed at the end of last year after Berland’s lawyer said most of the offences he has been charged with relate to events which occurred in parts of Israel beyond the borders recognised by the Netherlands.

The Haarlem court also dismissed that claim, as well as suggestions that it would be inhuman to send him back to Israel because he is in poor health.

Justice minister Ivo Opstelten will take the final decision.