UAE Arrests Three Suspects Following Mysterious Killing of Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi

On Monday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) arrested three suspects in connection with the mysterious killing of Tsvi Kogan, a 28-year-old Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, whose body was found in Al Ain under suspicious circumstances. The Ministry of Interior confirmed the arrests, but details surrounding the case remain unclear.

Kogan, a prominent member of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, disappeared in Dubai last Thursday. His body was discovered on Sunday near his vehicle, approximately an hour’s drive from his home. Investigations suggest he may have been abducted before being killed, with Israeli

 

 

media reporting that the suspects, Uzbek nationals allegedly linked to Iran, have fled to Turkey.

Authorities are still investigating the crime, and it is unclear whether the murder occurred in Al Ain or elsewhere. The UAE has not released further details regarding the incident, but Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and UAE officials are cooperating closely.Kogan was instrumental in fostering Jewish life in the UAE, managing a kosher food store, and establishing the first Jewish educational center in Dubai. As a representative of Chabad, one of the world’s largest Orthodox Jewish organizations, Kogan played a key role in supporting Jewish residents and visitors in the Gulf.

Kogan married Rivky Kogan, an American citizen, in 2022. She is the daughter of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was tragically killed during the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. The family’s deep ties to the global Jewish community have drawn widespread attention to this case.

The Israeli government has condemned Kogan’s murder, describing it as a “heinous terrorist act motivated by anti-Semitism.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to use every available means to ensure the perpetrators face justice, with both Israeli and Emirati authorities pursuing the case vigorously.