Jewish Rabbi's Killers Planned to Transfer Him to Oman After Abduction

According to the Wall Street Journal, the killers of Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan abducted him in the United Arab Emirates and intended to transfer him to the neighboring country, Oman. The report states that three suspects were in the process of transferring this Israeli-Moldovan citizen towards the border when their plan was disrupted for an unspecified reason. Although the cause of Kogan's death has not yet been revealed, sources close to him have reported a 'bloody end' and a violent murder. Kogan, a 28-year-old rabbi residing in the UAE, disappeared in Dubai late last month, and his body was found a few days later in Al Ain, located near the Oman border. The United Arab Emirates has detained three suspects from Uzbekistan in connection with his murder. These individuals were arrested in Turkey. According to the Kan state television network, Israeli officials believe that Kogan's murder was not necessarily directed by the Islamic Republic, but this incident is considered a terrorist attack. Although there is currently no definitive information regarding a possible connection between the Iranian government and this incident, there have been past efforts by the Islamic Republic to attack Israeli citizens and Jews worldwide. In the most recent case, the Canadian newspaper Globe and Mail reported on November 19 that the Canadian government thwarted an Islamic Republic plot to assassinate Irwin Cotler, a prominent Jewish lawyer and former Minister of Justice who has also served as the Attorney General of Canada. However, the Islamic Republic's embassy in Abu Dhabi denied any involvement of the Iranian government in the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan last Sunday. Previously, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israeli government would hold the killers and masterminds of the abduction and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan accountable for their actions. Netanyahu, speaking at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting, expressed the deep anger of himself, government members, and all citizens of Israel and Jews worldwide regarding this 'oil-fueled and anti-Semitic terrorist attack.'