Missing rabbi and former Israeli soldier found dead in UAE as assailants flee country

UAE authorities have found the body of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who had been missing since Thursday. Kogan, who had served in the Israeli army’s Givati Brigade’s Charedi company, according to Kann, and was an emissary for the Chabad chapter in Abu Dhabi, was discovered dead, with Israeli officials labelling the killing a “despicable antisemitic act of terror” and vowing to pursue the perpetrators.

The occupation state’s National Security Council reiterated that the UAE has a Level 3 travel warning, urging Israeli citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the Gulf state, citing a threat to Israelis and Jews in the country. “Avoid visiting businesses, gathering places, and entertainment venues identified with the Israeli and Jewish population,” the warning stated, advising increased caution and avoiding displays of Israeli symbols.

An Uzbek cell killed the Israeli terrorist Rabbi Kogan in the Emirates and was able to withdraw and travel safely.

In the details:

Rabbi Zvi Kogan served in the Israeli army as a fighter in the Givati unit. He was the manager of the Jewish kosher supermarket in Dubai, “Ruman”.… pic.twitter.com/LMaSGfi4D2

— Palestinian News 🗞️ (@drr_palestine) November 24, 2024

Ynet reported that the Israeli-Moldovan’s car was found abandoned in the Emirate of Al Ain, about 150 kilometres from Abu Dhabi, with signs of a struggle inside. Officials suspect involvement from Uzbek nationals allegedly recruited by Iran, who later fled to Turkiye. An unnamed UAE official was quoted by Israeli media as stating, “It happened after years without an unusual security or nationalistic incident.”

Asher Ben Artzi, Israel’s former head of Interpol was quoted by the Telegraph as saying “Iranian intelligence is very active there and invests great efforts in locating Israelis who will be the target of an attack,” adding “They don’t always act by themselves, many times they use agents and sources they recruit. Iranian intelligence operates with great boldness and ‘insolence’.”

Since the UAE normalised ties with the occupation state as part of the US-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, Kogan has served as the country’s representative of Chabad, a Zionist organization involved in expanding Jewish life in the UAE alongside Chief Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Duchman, including ensuring the wide availability of kosher food and opening the first Jewish education centre in the country.

READ: UAE denies funding Israel’s aid project in Gaza