Rabbi Killed in UAE: Israel Suspects Iran

A rabbi was killed in the UAE: Israel suspects Iran Sergey Popovich

The body of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who disappeared on November 21 in the United Arab Emirates, has been found. Israel suspects Iran of murder.

Three Uzbek citizens are also suspected. This was reported by Channel 24 with reference to CNN.

What is known about the rabbi's murder

Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who also had Moldovan citizenship, disappeared in Dubai on November 21, apparently the victim of a kidnapping. His body was found on Sunday, November 24.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office called the incident a “brutal anti-Semitic terrorist incident.”

The State of Israel will use all means at its disposal to bring Kogan's killers and those who sent them to justice, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The UAE Interior Ministry confirmed that it had received a missing persons report from Kogan's family, but only indicated his Moldovan citizenship, without mentioning his Israeli citizenship.

Former Mossad counterintelligence chief Oded Aylam said that the murder may have been carried out by Iranian forces.

According to The Telegraph, UAE law enforcement officials suspect three Uzbek citizens of the crime. Meanwhile, Ynet sources report that the suspects fled to Turkey.

Rabbi Zvi Kogan represented the Chabad Hasidic religious movement and held Israeli and Moldovan citizenship. He was involved in spreading Judaism in the region, founded the first Jewish educational center in the UAE, and worked to make kosher food available.

This tragic incident occurred amid improving relations between the UAE and Israel. In 2020, the UAE diplomatically recognized Israel.