Chabad rabbi killed in United Arab Emirates; Israel condemns ‘despicable anti-Semitic act’

The body of a rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates on Thursday has been found, Israeli officials announced early Sunday.

Israel had previously warned that Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who worked as an ambassador for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in the capital of Abu Dhabi, could be a victim of terrorism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the Mossad and other security agencies were involved in the search for him. a statement late on Saturday.

“The murder of the late Chabad emissary Zvi Kogan in the Emirates is a cowardly and despicable act of anti-Semitic terrorism,” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said. he said on social media After Kogan’s body was discovered. “The State of Israel will not rest or remain silent until those responsible for this criminal act pay for their actions.”

Kogan, who holds both Israeli and Moldovan citizenship, was one of thousands of rabbis sent by the Chabad movement on missions around the world to meet with local Jews and Jewish travelers. Chabad has expanded the Middle Eastern country’s limited presence in the United Arab Emirates starting in 2020. Relations with Israel normalized with historic agreement; kogan listed as one of five rabbis working in the country.

Kogan’s killing could pose a test for relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. Israeli media writesIsraeli and Emirati officials, without citing sources, believe Kogan was kidnapped and killed by Uzbek citizens working on behalf of Iran. Iran, known for organizing terrorism beyond its borders, vowed retaliation Israel bombed its military facilities in October. It has made its own retaliation against Iran’s missile attack, but has so far not done so.

The Hasidic Chabad-Lubavitch movement had called for prayers on Kogan’s behalf after his disappearance became public on Saturday night.

“We are deeply concerned about Chabad-Lubavitch ambassador Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who disappeared in the Emirate of Dubai on Thursday,” the Orthodox movement said. a statement Attributed to President Yehuda Krinsky. “Our ambassadors are working closely with authorities as they investigate his disappearance. We pray with the Jewish community worldwide for his safe return and ask everyone to keep Zvi haCohen ben Ettel in your prayers.”

“We share with great pain that Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Chabad-Lubavitch ambassador in Abu Dhabi, UAE, was killed by terrorists after being kidnapped on Thursday,” the movement said in a statement on Sunday morning. he said.

Following Israel’s official statement, the UAE Ministry of Internal Affairs said, statement made on social media on the case late Saturday. Stating that Kogan is only a Moldovan national, the institution stated that it received a report from Kogan’s family and launched an investigation.

“The Ministry confirmed that upon receipt of the report, the relevant authorities immediately started search and investigation efforts,” the statement said. “It also calls on the public to obtain information from official sources and to refrain from spreading malicious rumors or misleading news aimed at creating confusion in society.”

Dubai, the UAE’s largest and most international city, has quickly become a popular destination for Israeli travelers Following the normalization agreement signed with Arab countries in 2020, the first of the series known as the Abraham Accords took place. However, Israel has officially warned against non-essential travel to the country during the Israel-Hamas war and advised Israelis living there to be on high alert.

Chabad representatives and outposts, which in some places were the most prominent targets of Jews, had faced threats before. police in greece he said last year that they foiled a planned attack on the Chabad center in Athens; The suspects in this case had ties to Iran. A gunman in Poway, California, in 2019 Shots opened at Chabad centerHe killed someone and injured the rabbi.

Six people, including the rabbi and his wife, Killed when terrorists attacked Chabad center in Mumbai, IndiaIn 2008.

Kogan’s wife, who joined him in the UAE, is reportedly the niece of the rabbi killed in Mumbai.