The Israeli authorities called the killing of Rabbi Zvi Kogan an act of terrorism. The Emirati government said it had arrested three people in connection with the murder.
An Israeli rabbi in the United Arab Emirates who had been missing since Thursday has been found murdered, Israeli and Emirati authorities announced on Sunday. Israeli officials called the death of the rabbi, Zvi Kogan, an act of terrorism, without providing any further details.
The Emirati government said in a statement on Sunday that “three perpetrators involved in the murder” had been arrested. It offered no additional information on the arrests but said “full details” would be disclosed when the investigations conclude.
Rabbi Kogan, a dual citizen of Israel and Moldova, worked in Abu Dhabi as part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism that conducts Jewish outreach around the world.
“With great pain we share that Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Chabad-Lubavitch emissary to Abu Dhabi, U.A.E., was murdered by terrorists after being abducted on Thursday,” Chabad said in a brief statement, adding that his body had been recovered early Sunday morning.
According to Chabad, Rabbi Kogan had worked “for several years in establishing and expanding Jewish life in the Emirates.” His wife, Rivky, joined him there after their marriage in 2022, the movement’s statement said.
