Three men arrested after murder of Chabad rabbi in UAE

Authorities in the UAE have arrested three men after the discovery of the body of a Chabad rabbi, who Israel claims was murdered in a “ despicable, antisemitic act of terror”.

Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan, 28, was killed after being reported missing from Wednesday of this week. 

Authorities in the UAE said that they found and arrested the three suspects in “record time.” 

In a statement, the UAE Interior Ministry said: “The United Arab Emirates, with all its institutions, will spare no effort to prevent any attack on its citizens, residents and visitors.”

 “All security agencies work around the clock to protect the stability of society and ensure the sustainability of the highest levels of security and safety that have been established since the founding of the state.”

Israeli president Herzog said in a statement that “This vile antisemitic attack is a reminder of the inhumanity of the enemies of the Jewish people,” he writes on X. “It will not deter us from continuing to grow flourishing communities in the UAE or anywhere — especially with the help of the dedicated commitment and work of the Chabad emissaries all over the world.”

Speaking to the JC, the UAE’s chief rabbi Levi Druchman said: “This is a deeply tragic and challenging time as we mourn Zvi.

"From here there is only one way, we will only grow stronger—bringing more light, building more, bring more shluchim, and doing more good. We won’t allow terrorism to stop us.

“Every mitzvah or good deed done in Tzvi’s honor would mean so much to us.”

Israel’s Mossad and UAE intelligence agencies are investigating the case, after Kogan stopped communicating with his family on Wednesday and missed scheduled meetings.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement on behalf of Mossad and the National Security Council, saying that “Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen and Chabad emissary residing in the United Arab Emirates, has been missing since Thursday afternoon.

“Since his disappearance, and in the wake of information of terrorist involvement, an intensive investigation has been launched in the country,” the statement read.

“Israeli intelligence and security agencies are working tirelessly for the safety and well-being of Zvi Kogan. The National Security Council has previously issued a Level 3 travel warning (moderate threat) for the United Arab Emirates, advising against non-essential travel to the destination and recommending heightened precautions for those staying there,” the PMO said.

Kogan was an emissary for the Abu Dhabi Chabad branch, and ran a kosher supermarket in the UAE, according to Ynet. The branch of Chabad was established in the wake of the Abraham Accords and boasts a Kosher supermarket as well as community members in Dubai.

Security officials told Ynet that “we know he was followed in the kosher supermarket that he managed in Abu Dhabi. We understand that those responsible [for his disappearance] have escaped to Turkey. His body has not been found.”

Ynet reported that after Kogan failed to arrive at meetings scheduled for Wednesday, his wife contacted the Chabad security officer, who appealed to Emirati authorities about his disappearance. 

In a statement, Chabad said: “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.

“His body was recovered early Sunday morning, and his family has been notified.”

An Israeli who lives in Abu Dhabi and was acquainted with Kogan told Ynet that the rabbi “is a nice guy who is very active in the community. His family is ruined and the Israeli and Jewish community is appalled.”

According to Israel's Channel 12 News, an Emirati security source said: "There is a lot of shock and anger after the disappearance of Zvi Kogan. Senior religious figures, and the government, are working to confirm [the details] of the incident and clarify it."

Rabbi Kogan was related to Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was murdered along with his wife in a terror attack at the Chabad house in Mumbai in 2008.

Relations between Israel and the UAE were normalised with the Abraham Accords in 2020, and despite criticisms of Israel’s conduct during its war, a senior Emirati official said late last month that normalisation is not at risk.