Frédéric Simon, correspondent in Israel, with AFP / Photo credit: Mohammed Al-HAMMADI / UAE's Ministry of Presidential Affairs / AFP
8.30pm, November 24, 2024
The United Arab Emirates Interior Ministry on Sunday confirmed the arrest of those responsible for the murder of Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, in the country. Earlier, Israel had affirmed that it would use “all possible means” to punish the latter.
Just hours after the murder of Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan-Israeli rabbi, was confirmed on Sunday, the United Arab Emirates announced the arrest of the three suspected perpetrators. “The Emirati authorities arrested in record time the three perpetrators of the murder of Zvi Kogan, a Moldovan national according to his identity documents at the time of his entry into the United Arab Emirates, where he was residing,” said the Emirati Ministry of Defense. 'Interior in a press release relayed by the national agency Wam.
“Respond firmly”
A “specialized search and investigation team was quickly formed” after the announcement of his disappearance, leading “to the discovery of the victim’s body, the identification and arrest of the perpetrators,” continued the ministry. “Details of the incident will be disclosed at the end of the investigation,” he said.
The Gulf country, which normalized its relations with Israel in 2020, also said it was determined “to respond firmly to any attempt to undermine the security and stability” of the country. The Israeli government had earlier denounced “a heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism”, specifying that “the State of Israel will use all means at its disposal to ensure that justice is done and that those responsible for his death are held accountable for their actions. “.
Little is known at this stage about the circumstances of his assassination, although according to some Emirati sources cited today by media in Israel, Kogan was lured outside Abu Dhabi by a group of Uzbek nationals. Still according to these same sources, the murderers acted on behalf of Iran. If this is the case, this assassination is probably part of the response announced by the mullahs' regime, after the air raids carried out by Israel in Iran at the end of October.
