The United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrested three individuals in connection with the killing of Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, whose death has been described as a "heinous antisemitic terror incident" by Israeli officials. Kogan, a prominent figure in Dubai's Jewish community, was reported missing last Thursday, with his body discovered on Sunday in the city of Al Ain, near the Omani border.
The UAE's Interior Ministry announced the arrests on Sunday, stating the "perpetrators" were apprehended "in record time." However, the ministry did not provide details about the suspects or specify any charges. It emphasized that the UAE would act "decisively and without leniency to any actions or attempts that threaten societal stability."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the killing, declaring, "Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death." President Isaac Herzog also issued a statement expressing sorrow and gratitude for the UAE's cooperation, saying, "I trust they will work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice."
UAE authorities arrested three people suspected of murdering an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi. Israel denounced the incident as a ‘heinous antisemitic terrorist act’ https://t.co/6lIM1XvWOE pic.twitter.com/ErprKl6LLQ — Reuters (@Reuters) November 24, 2024
Kogan, a member of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, managed a kosher grocery store in Dubai, which has been a hub for Jewish residents and visitors. The store, located on Al Wasl Road, was closed on Sunday. Mezuzahs on the front and back doors appeared to have been removed, reflecting growing security concerns. The incident has heightened tensions within Dubai's Jewish community, which has grown since the UAE and Israel normalized relations under the Abraham Accords in 2020.
The Israeli government has reissued a warning against nonessential travel to the UAE, urging Israelis and Jews in the country to avoid public spaces linked to Israel and the Jewish population. The advisory follows ongoing regional unrest exacerbated by the Israel-Hamas war and rising tensions with Iran.
Ayoob Kara, a former Israeli politician, indicated that Iranian involvement is under investigation. "There are indications that investigators suspect Iranian involvement," Kara said, though no specific evidence has been disclosed. Iran's embassy in the UAE has denied the allegations, describing them as baseless.
The UAE has maintained its diplomatic ties with Israel despite widespread regional anger over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash took to X, formerly Twitter, to emphasize the UAE's commitment to coexistence, stating, "The UAE will remain a home of safety, an oasis of stability, a society of tolerance and coexistence."
Kogan's murder has reverberated through the UAE's Jewish community, with informal synagogues in Dubai remaining closed due to security concerns following Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel. The UAE's one official synagogue, located in Abu Dhabi, continues to operate, but attendance has reportedly been cautious.
Kogan's wife, Rivky, a U.S. citizen, is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. The couple had been living in the UAE, where Kogan worked to serve the Jewish community as part of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a prominent branch of ultra-Orthodox Judaism.
This article incudes reporting from Reuters and AP news.
