Body of missing rabbi found in UAE, Israel calls it terrorism
Zvi Kogan, a Chabad supervisor of kosher kitchens in the UAE, June 29, 2021 (Courtesy of Times of Israel)
Israeli authorities said Sunday that the body of a missing rabbi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been found.
Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan dual national, had been missing in the UAE since Thursday but a joint statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Foreign Ministry confirmed that his body was found.
The statement called his killing “a despicable anti-Semitic terrorist act,” and vowed to “act by all means” to bring the perpetrators to justice.
It, however, did not provide any details about the location where the body was found.
Israel warns its citizens in UAE after rabbi’s death
Israel’s National Security Council, meanwhile, renewed its warning for Israeli citizens to only travel to the UAE for “essential reasons” after the rabbi’s death.
“Avoid visiting businesses, gathering places, and entertainment venues identified with the Israeli and Jewish population,” says the warning.
It also advised Israelis in the UAE to maintain increased vigilance and avoid displaying Israeli symbols.
There has been no comment from UAE authorities on the Israeli statement yet.
Kogan was an envoy of the Orthodox Jewish organization Chabad in the UAE since it normalized its relations with Israel under a U.S.-sponsored agreement in late 2020.
