Chabad Rabbi in UAE Murdered in Suspected Antisemitic Terror Attack
Israeli and Emirati authorities have confirmed the murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, a Chabad emissary based in Abu Dhabi, whose body was discovered early Sunday. Kogan, a dual Israeli-Moldovan citizen, went missing on Thursday under circumstances Israeli officials have described as a terror attack motivated by antisemitism.
The United Arab Emirates Interior Ministry launched an investigation upon receiving reports of Kogan’s disappearance, while Israeli intelligence agencies, including the Mossad, assisted in efforts to locate him. His car was reportedly found abandoned in Al Ain, around 93 miles from Abu Dhabi, raising suspicions of foul play. Unconfirmed reports in Israeli media suggest a group of Uzbek nationals may have attacked Kogan before fleeing to Turkey. Israeli officials have also indicated that Kogan had been under surveillance by Iranian intelligence, though Tehran has not been directly implicated in the crime.
This holiday season, give to:
Truth and understanding
The Media Line's intrepid correspondents are in Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Pakistan providing first-person reporting.
They all said they cover it.
We see it.
We report with just one agenda: the truth.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement condemning the murder as a “heinous antisemitic act of terror,” pledging to use all available resources to bring those responsible to justice. Kogan’s family, including his wife Rivky, a US citizen, has been notified.
Kogan played a central role in fostering Jewish life in the UAE following the normalization of ties between Israel and the UAE in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Alongside other Chabad leaders, he contributed to establishing a Jewish education center and expanding access to kosher food in the Gulf region.
Kogan was a relative of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed with his wife in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack on the Chabad House there.
