An Israeli rabbi in the United Arab Emirates, Zvi Kogan, who had been missing since Thursday, has been found dead, according to Israeli authorities. Officials stated that Kogan had been murdered and labeled his death as an act of terrorism, although no further details were provided.
The Emirati government announced on Sunday that three individuals involved in the murder had been arrested. They did not disclose additional information regarding the arrests but indicated that full details would be shared upon the conclusion of the investigations.
Rabbi Kogan, a dual citizen of Israel and Moldova, was working in Abu Dhabi as part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, which is known for its global outreach in Orthodox Judaism.
Chabad confirmed the murder in a statement, expressing sorrow over Kogan's death and stating that he had been abducted on Thursday before being found dead early Sunday morning.
According to Chabad, Rabbi Kogan had dedicated several years to establishing and expanding Jewish life in the Emirates. His wife, Rivky, joined him in the UAE after their marriage in 2022, as noted in the movement's statement.
The Israeli government claims to have information suggesting that the killing was an act of terrorism. However, it has not identified any specific groups responsible for the attack in the Gulf state, despite previous accusations against Iran and its allies for targeting Israelis abroad.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killing as “a despicable antisemitic terrorist attack” and stated that Israel would pursue justice against those responsible.
Since the establishment of formal ties between the UAE and Israel in the 2020 Abraham Accords, there has been an increase in Israeli and Jewish visitors to the UAE. The small Jewish community has developed religious centers and kosher catering services in the region.
However, relations have soured following Israel's military actions against Hamas in Gaza, which have sparked widespread outrage across the region. Emirati government references to Rabbi Kogan's disappearance have focused on his Moldovan citizenship, omitting mention of his Israeli nationality.