Israel says missing rabbi was killed in UAE in ‘antisemitic terrorist’ murder

A missing Israeli-Moldovan rabbi has been found dead in the United Arab Emirates, in what Israel called an antisemitic murder on Sunday.

The Israeli government said the death of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who has been missing in the Gulf state since Thursday, was a “criminal antisemitic terrorist event.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement his country “will deal with the criminals responsible for his death to the fullest extent of the law.”

Kogan’s disappearance quickly sparked suspicions that he had been kidnapped. He was the representative in Abu Dhabi for Chabad Lubavitch, an influential Orthodox Jewish Hasidic organization based in New York.

“With great pain we share that Rabbi Zvi Kogan, Chabad-Lubavitch emissary to Abu Dhabi, UAE, was murdered by terrorists after being abducted on Thursday,” Chabad posted on X.

Israel’s National Security Bureau said Sunday that Israeli citizens should avoid non-essential travel to the UAE, and called on those staying in the country to avoid displaying Israeli symbols and to avoid visiting areas “identified with the Israeli and Jewish population.”

“There is concern that there is still a threat on the ground against Israelis and Jews in the area,” said the advisory.

Israeli president Isaac Herzog said Sunday that the “vile antisemitic attack” would not deter Israelis “from continuing to grow flourishing communities in the UAE or anywhere.”

On Saturday, Netanyahu’s office said Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, was investigating the disappearance after receiving information indicating a “terrorist incident.”

The United Arab Emirates government gave no immediate comment or acknowledgment that Kogan had been found dead. The Emirati Interior Ministry said Saturday it “had received a report from the family of a Moldovan national named Zvi Kogan, stating that he has been missing and out of contact since last Thursday.”

“Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report,” the ministry said.

NBC News has contacted the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

Kogan’s disappearance comes at a turbulent time for the region, after Iran and Israel traded fire in October and while Israel continues military campaigns in both Gaza and Lebanon.

The UAE diplomatically recognized Israel in 2020, and while the deal has held throughout the Israel-Hamas war and Israel’s ground invasion of Lebanon, both conflicts have stoked anger among some Emiratis, Arab nationals and others living in the the UAE. 

While there is currently no confirmation nor suggestion of Iran’s involvement, Iranian intelligence services have been accused of carrying out kidnappings in the past in the UAE.

Jamshid Sharmahd, an Iranian-German software developer living in California, was kidnapped in 2020 during a stopover in the United Arab Emirates and taken to Iran. Iran’s judiciary said he was executed in October.

Netanyahu’s office said the Israeli mission in Abu Dhabi was in contact with Kogan’s family.