Missing Israeli Rabbi, Zvi Kogan Found Dead In UAE

Israeli authorities announced Sunday that the body of Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old Israeli-Moldovan rabbi who went missing in the United Arab Emirates, has been discovered following what they described as a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement condemning the killing and vowing to “seek justice with the criminals responsible.” However, no details were provided on how the incident was classified as a terror attack.

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Kogan, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, operated a Kosher grocery store in Dubai and was last seen on Thursday. His death comes amid heightened regional tensions stemming from the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel and Israel’s subsequent military responses in Gaza and Lebanon. Emirati residents and Arab nationals in the UAE have expressed increasing anger over these developments.

The UAE government has yet to formally comment, though senior Emirati diplomat Anwer Gargash posted on X that the country remains committed to being “a home of safety” and a “society of tolerance.”

The UAE’s state-run WAM news agency confirmed Kogan’s disappearance but identified him only as Moldovan, omitting his Israeli citizenship. The Emirati Interior Ministry stated that authorities promptly began search and investigation efforts upon receiving the missing person report.

During a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu expressed shock over Kogan’s death, thanked the UAE for its cooperation, and emphasized the importance of strengthening bilateral ties. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also condemned the killing, praising the UAE’s swift response and expressing confidence in their commitment to justice.

Kogan’s murder prompted Israel to issue a travel advisory against nonessential visits to the UAE, citing potential threats against Israelis and Jews in the region.

The rabbi, a member of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, managed the Rimon Market, a Kosher grocery store in Dubai. The store has faced online protests amid regional unrest, and its doors remained closed on Sunday. Mezuzahs on the building were reportedly removed, and the store has been a target for pro-Palestinian online activists.

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Kogan’s wife, Rivky, a U.S. citizen, is related to Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The incident raises concerns about security risks in the UAE, where Iranian intelligence operations have been linked to previous kidnappings. The UAE, known for its strict autocratic governance, has a small but growing Jewish community with dedicated synagogues and Kosher establishments. However, the heightened tensions in the region are increasingly putting them under scrutiny.

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