Israel claims that a missing Israeli rabbi was killed in a “antisemitic terrorist attack” in the United Arab Emirates.

Israel claims that a missing Israeli rabbi

Israel claims that a missing Israeli rabbi was killed in a “antisemitic terrorist attack” in the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli authorities reported Sunday that they had discovered the body of an. Israeli rabbi who had gone missing in the United Arab Emirates, calling it a “antisemitic terrorist act.”

Since Thursday afternoon, Zvi Kogan, a representative of Chabad. A Hasidic Jewish religious community with communities, synagogues, and other institutions throughout numerous nations, has been absent. He is also a citizen of Moldova. According to Chabad’s official website, he was kidnapped from Dubai.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office jointly announced. Sunday that UAE officials had found Kogan’s body.

“It was a horrible act of antisemitism and terrorism when Tzvi [Zvi] Kogan, of blessed memory, was murdered. “The State of Israel will employ every available tool to prosecute those responsible for this murder,” the statement read.

Israel Katz, the country’s defense minister, called the murder a “cowardly and terrible act of anti-Semitic terror.”

Israeli officials have reissued travel advisories for citizens. Advising against unnecessary travel and advising travelers to limit their movement and remain in safe locations.

The UAE interior ministry said on Saturday that an inquiry was in progress after it “received a notification from the family of a Moldovan national named Zvi Kogan.

Saying that he has been missing and out of communication since last Thursday.”

Kogan established and spread Judaism in the United Arab Emirates in collaboration with other Chabad emissaries. According to the official website of the Chabad movement. He helped spread the availability of kosher food and established the first Jewish education center in the area.

The US-born wife of Kogan, Rivky, lost her uncle, Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

There are reportedly hundreds of Jews living in the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf state opened its first purpose-built synagogue last year. The interfaith complex, also known as the “Abrahamic Family House,” has a church and a mosque.

In recent years, the UAE and Israel’s relationship warmed. Through the US-brokered Abraham Accords. The United Arab Emirates became the most prominent Arab country to open relations with Israel in decades in 2020.

However, according to Reuters, following the October 7 assaults, Israelis and Jews have become less visible in public. According to Jewish community members who spoke to the agency. Security concerns led to the closure of informal synagogues in Dubai following the bombings.