In a chilling incident that has sparked outrage across the globe, Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a prominent Chabad emissary based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was found dead after being reported missing on Thursday. The UAE authorities have arrested three individuals suspected of involvement in the murder, which Israeli officials have labeled a “heinous antisemitic terrorist act.”
The Incident and Investigation
The 28-year-old rabbi, who had been residing in Dubai, managed a kosher grocery store and was deeply involved in fostering Jewish life in the UAE. He disappeared last week, prompting swift action by Emirati security forces. On Sunday, the UAE’s Ministry of Interior announced the discovery of Kogan’s body and the arrest of three Uzbek nationals allegedly connected to the crime. Officials have promised a thorough investigation to uncover the motive and details of the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the murder, describing it as a “terrorist act” and pledging to use “all means” to ensure justice for the perpetrators. The Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, is reportedly assisting Emirati authorities in the ongoing investigation.
A Growing Jewish Presence in the UAE
Kogan was a part of the ultra-Orthodox Chabad movement, an international Jewish organization focused on religious outreach. Since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, which normalized relations between Israel and the UAE, the Jewish community in the Gulf nation has grown significantly. Synagogues and kosher businesses have flourished in cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, fostering a sense of interfaith cooperation.
However, tensions in the region have escalated following the October 7th attack and the subsequent Gaza conflict, leading to heightened security concerns for Israelis and Jews living in the Gulf.
Condemnation and Mourning
World leaders, religious figures, and the Jewish community have expressed shock and sorrow over Kogan’s death. The White House called the murder a “horrific crime against all those who stand for peace and coexistence.” Kogan’s funeral, held in Israel on Monday, was attended by family, religious leaders, and thousands of mourners. His father, Alexander Hacohen Kogan, described his son as a man devoted to spreading “light, goodness, and kindness.”
The Chabad movement echoed this sentiment, stating, “The targeting of Rabbi Kogan was an attempt to destroy the sacred Jewish values that he represented.”
Regional Implications
While Emirati authorities have emphasized their commitment to tolerance and coexistence, this incident has cast a shadow over the Abraham Accords, which sought to build bridges between Israel and Arab nations. Senior Emirati diplomat Anwar Gargash reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to being “an oasis of stability, a society of tolerance…”
Despite the tragedy, Israeli officials have pledged to deepen ties with the UAE. “We will only utilize this event to further and deepen our cooperation with our Emirati colleagues,” an Israeli foreign ministry official said.
Ongoing Security Concerns
The murder of Rabbi Kogan has reignited fears of regional instability and the risks faced by Jewish and Israeli residents in the Gulf. Israeli authorities have renewed travel advisories, urging citizens to avoid nonessential travel to the UAE and to exercise caution.
