Three people arrested after ‘murder’ of rabbi in UAE as Netanyahu claims it was ‘antisemitic terror incident’

Three suspects have been arrested after the body of a Chabad rabbi was found in what Israel is calling an “antisemitic terror incident.”

Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi serving as the UAE’s Chabad representative went missing on Thursday.

The Israeli intelligence agency Mossad was initially investigating Kogan’s disappearance as it was suspected he had been kidnapped.

However, his body was found this weekend in the Emirati city of Al Ain, around 150km from Abu Dhabi where the rabbi lived.

It was reported that Kogan’s abandoned car was found in Al Ain and that there were signs of struggle in the vehicle.

The Emirati interior ministry said that authorities had arrested “three perpetrators involved in the murder of Zvi Kogan.”

The authorities have not given specific details on the suspects but said the ministry would use “all legal powers to respond decisively and without leniency to any actions or attempts that threaten societal stability”.

Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets have been reporting that the suspects are Uzbek citizens recruited by Iran to carry out the assault. Allegedly they escaped to Turkey following the murder.

Iran has denied these allegations. A statement from the Iranian embassy in Abu Dhabi to Reuters said it “categorically rejects the allegations of Iran’s involvement in the murder of this individual”.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement on Sunday calling the murder a “heinous antisemitic terror incident.”

The statement said: “The state of Israel will act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a post on X: “This vile antisemitic attack is a reminder of the inhumanity of the enemies of the Jewish people.”

He added that the attack would not deter people from continuing to grow Jewish communities in the UAE or elsewhere, and thanked the UAE authorities for their “swift action.”

The National Security Council has issued a Level 3 travel warning for the UAE, saying there is a threat against Jews and Israelis in the country.

They warned against visiting businesses and venues associated with the Israeli and Jewish populations, and urged people to avoid displaying Israeli symbols.

“Cooperate with local security forces, follow their instructions, and report immediately if you have been exposed to terror activity,” they added.

Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accord in 2020 establishing full diplomatic relations between the two countries.

However, tensions have increased since the Israel-Gaza war.