In what Israel described as an antisemitic murder, a missing Israeli-Moldovan rabbi was discovered dead in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.
The killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who has been missing in the Gulf state since Thursday, was described by the Israeli government as a “criminal antisemitic terrorist event.”
According to a statement made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his nation “will deal with the criminals responsible for his death to the fullest extent of the law.”
Suspicions that Kogan had been abducted were immediately raised by his disappearance. He represented Chabad Lubavitch, a prominent New York-based Orthodox Jewish Hasidic organization, in Abu Dhabi.
We regret to inform you that Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the Chabad-Lubavitch envoy to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, was killed by terrorists following his kidnapping on Thursday, Chabad wrote on X.
Israel’s National Security Bureau stated on Sunday that Israelis should refrain from traveling to the United Arab Emirates for non-essential purposes and urged those who are already there to refrain from wearing Israeli symbols and from going to places associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities.
The alert expressed worry that there is still a threat against Jews and Israelis in the region.
Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel, stated on Sunday that the hateful antisemitic attack will not stop Israelis from building thriving communities in the United Arab Emirates or elsewhere.
Netanyahu’s office said on Saturday that Mossad, Israel’s spy agency, was looking into the disappearance after learning of a “terrorist incident.”
The government of the United Arab Emirates did not immediately acknowledge or react on Kogan’s death. The family of Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan national, reported to the Emirati Interior Ministry on Saturday that he had gone missing and had not been in contact since last Thursday.
According to the ministry, specialized authorities launched search and investigative efforts as soon as they received the notification.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been contacted by NBC News for a statement.
Following an October firefight between Iran and Israel and Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, Kogan’s abduction occurs during a tumultuous period for the area.
While the agreement has lasted through the Israel-Hamas conflict and Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon, the UAE’s formal recognition of Israel in 2020 has fueled resentment among certain Emiratis, Arab nationalities, and other UAE residents.
Iranian intelligence services have been accused of conducting kidnappings in the United Arab Emirates in the past, although there is currently no proof or indication of Iran’s involvement.
A California-based Iranian-German software developer named Jamshid Sharmahd was abducted in 2020 while on a stopover in the United Arab Emirates and transported to Iran. According to Iran’s judiciary, he was put to death in October.
According to Netanyahu’s administration, Kogan’s family was in communication with the Israeli mission in Abu Dhabi.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!