A citizen of dual Israeli and Moldovan nationality had been missing since November 21, according to Israeli authorities. An investigation had been opened.
The body of a rabbi with dual Israeli and Moldovan nationality, sought since Thursday, was located in the Emirates by Israeli authorities, the Israeli government announced this Sunday, November 24. The government has not provided details on where the body was found or the identities of the suspects.
The murder of Tzvi Kogan “is a heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism”, denounced the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and the Israeli Foreign Ministry in a joint statement.
“The State of Israel will use all means at its disposal to ensure that justice is done and those responsible for his death are held accountable,” they added.
An open investigation
On Saturday, Israeli authorities announced the opening of an investigation linked to the disappearance of Tzvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen, on November 21.
“Since his disappearance, and given the information suggesting that it was a terrorist (episode), Israel argued. However, no details were provided to support this lead.
Mossad, the foreign intelligence service, has opened an investigation, he said. For their part, the Emirati authorities indicated that they had “immediately launched search operations” to find Tzvi Kogan.
Mossad “worried” on Saturday
In its statement dated Saturday, the Mossad, the powerful foreign intelligence service, and the National Security Council declared themselves “concerned for the safety and well-being of Tzvi Kogan”.
According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, Tzvi Kogan was an “emissary of (the Hasidic movement) Chabad Lubavitch.”
Chabad Lubavitch is an ultra-Orthodox movement driven by a global missionary commitment aimed at strengthening Jewish identity and bringing Jews closer to their faith, particularly through its community centers.
The United Arab Emirates is one of the Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords, promoted by Donald Trump during his first term in the White House.
