Arrests Made in Rabbi Kogan's Murder Case: Three Uzbeks as Suspects

The murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the UAE has led to the arrest of three Uzbek nationals as suspects. Israeli and Moldovan officials have condemned the act as antisemitic, while the UAE pledges a thorough investigation into the incident's motives and circumstances.

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced the arrests of three Uzbek nationals in connection with the murder of Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi Zvi Kogan. Rabbi Kogan, who served as an emissary for the Chabad Lubavitch organization in Abu Dhabi, was reported missing and subsequently found dead three days later. The Interior Ministry released images of the three suspects, identified as Olimboy Tohirovich, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, and Azizbek Kamilovich, and stated it is investigating their motives.

Reactions have been swift, with Israel condemning the murder as an "abhorrent antisemitic terrorist attack," while Moldova described it as an "act of antisemitism." The murder has been regarded by the UAE's ambassador to the United States as a crime against the state itself, emphasizing its detrimental impact on the UAE's reputation, particularly given its recent normalization of relations with Israel in 2020.

The funeral for Rabbi Kogan is scheduled at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, following the repatriation of his remains from the UAE. An Israeli organization known for assisting in the burial of Jews confirmed that his body is en route to Israel.

Initial investigations have reportedly identified a suspected cell managed indirectly by Iran as linked to the murder, a claim that Iran's embassy has denied. Other Israeli sources suggest potential connections to Palestinian Islamic Jihad or Hamas, complicating the narrative surrounding Rabbi Kogan’s assassination.

Rabbi Kogan was in Abu Dhabi to serve the Jewish community and was also noted for managing a kosher supermarket in Dubai. The circumstances of his disappearance were alarming, with his wife raising the alarm after he failed to arrive at a scheduled meeting. Reports indicate that he was abducted and found dead in a remote location after a collaborative investigation among various security agencies.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged justice for the rabbi, asserting that Israel will do everything in its power to track down the responsible parties. Moldova's President Maia Sandu expressed her sorrow over this tragic incident and extended condolences on behalf of the Moldovan government. Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE's ambassador to the US, reiterated the incident's seriousness, framing it as an attack on the values and vision of the UAE, underlining the need for resilience in the face of such heinous acts.