Murder of Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi in UAE; Abu Dhabi Reports Three Arrests

On Sunday, December 4, Israel announced that the body of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who had gone missing in the United Arab Emirates was found, and he was killed in what the Israeli government described as a "heinous and anti-Semitic terrorist incident." In a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, Israel declared that it would "do everything in its power to bring justice against the perpetrators of this crime." Rabbi Zvi Kogan had been missing since Thursday, with speculation about his abduction. Some Israeli media reported that Mossad suspects the rabbi was kidnapped by agents of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This incident comes amid threats of retaliation from Iran following exchanges of fire with Israel last October. The UAE's Ministry of Interior announced on the evening of December 4 that three individuals had been arrested on suspicion of murdering Zvi Kogan in the country. The statement, published by the state news agency, did not provide further details about the suspects but emphasized that the ministry would use "all its legal powers to respond decisively and without leniency to any action or attempt that threatens social stability." The UAE Ministry of Interior also stated that the dual-national rabbi entered the UAE with his Moldovan passport and resided in the country. The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UAE announced in separate statements that investigations and searches for "an individual named Zvi Kogan of Moldovan nationality" were ongoing. According to these statements, the family of the individual reported that he had been missing since Thursday, and there was "continuous communication" between UAE officials and his family, as well as the Moldovan embassy. The UAE government statements did not mention the rabbi's Israeli citizenship. Rabbi Zvi Kogan, the deputy spiritual leader of the Jewish "Chabad" group in the UAE and the rabbi of the Abu Dhabi section, was last seen on Thursday afternoon near Abu Dhabi. Israeli media reported that shortly after the rabbi's disappearance, a joint investigation was initiated with UAE intelligence agencies, and according to some reports, a delegation from Mossad traveled from Tel Aviv to Dubai on Saturday evening. Initial reports from Mossad indicated that Mr. Kogan might have been killed immediately after his abduction, but subsequent reports referenced Mossad's "concern" about his abduction by Iranian intelligence agents. According to the Jerusalem Post, prior Israeli intelligence reports indicated that Iranian intelligence agents were tracking Mr. Kogan and the "Chabad" religious group in the UAE. The UAE has remained silent on this matter but continues to fully cooperate with Mossad in the investigation regarding Rabbi Kogan's whereabouts. The "Chabad" organization, which operates in dozens of countries worldwide, has been established in the UAE for over 10 years, but its activities expanded significantly four years ago following the UAE's normalization agreement with Israel, which greatly increased the number of Israeli tourists in the country. "Chabad" is a well-known Jewish charitable organization founded in 1775 in the Russian Empire, with a long history of charitable work for Jews worldwide and numerous branches in dozens of countries. According to Channel Kan, Rabbi Kogan is also a Moldovan citizen and lived in Abu Dhabi with his wife and family. Israeli security forces monitoring the "Chabad" delegation in the UAE informed Mossad about the incident following Zvi Kogan's disappearance. The Israeli National Security Council warned Israelis to avoid unnecessary travel to the UAE following the rabbi's disappearance. During the Jewish fall holidays last month, tens of thousands of Israelis traveled to the UAE. Israeli media emphasized that tourists from this country were pleased with their "complete security" in the UAE, attributing it to the Abraham Accords. Channel Kan and Yedioth Ahronoth reported on Saturday night that Rabbi Kogan's abandoned vehicle was found near the city of Al Ain in the UAE, an hour and a half from the last point he was seen in Abu Dhabi. If the Islamic Republic of Iran is involved in this incident, it occurs at a peak of military tension between Israel and Iran, while Tehran's proxy groups have been engaged in conflict with the Israeli army in Lebanon and Gaza for over 13 months. The Islamic Republic of Iran is suspected of abducting several of its political opponents, such as Jamshid Sharmard and Abbas Yazdi, from Dubai. Jamshid Sharmard, who held German citizenship and had a residence permit in the United States, was sentenced to death in Iran and reportedly died last month before his execution. However, there has been no precedent for Iran being accused of abducting Israeli citizens and figures. The United Arab Emirates has a large Jewish community that has been growing over the past four years. The Jewish community in the UAE has synagogues, kosher restaurants, and its businesses. The UAE has never suspended flights from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv during the ongoing conflict, unlike dozens of Western companies, and given the limited number of Western airlines operating in Israel, UAE airlines have become a key link for Israelis traveling to other countries worldwide.