The UAE Interior Ministry announced the arrest of “three perpetrators of the murder” of the Israeli-Moldovan rabbi Tzvi Kogan, missing since Thursday and found lifeless this Sunday. The Israeli government denounces “a heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism».
Three arrests were made in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday following the murder of a Moldovan-Israeli rabbi, described as a “heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism» by the Israeli government.
The body of Tzvi Kogan, 28, who had been missing since Thursday in the Emirates where he was based, was found lifeless on Sunday by the Emirati authorities, sparking indignation in Israel.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry official said she hoped the remains would be repatriated Monday for burial in Israel. “The Emirati authorities arrested in record time the three perpetrators of the murder of Zvi (which can also be spelled Tzvi, editor's note) Kogan», indicated the UAE Ministry of the Interior in a press release relayed by the national agency Wam. He provided no details about the suspects or their motivations.
“A heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism”
Even before the announcement of these arrests, the Israeli government castigated “a heinous act of anti-Semitic terrorism». «Israel will use all means at its disposal to ensure justice is done and those responsible for his death are held accountable“, he assured in a press release.
In a video broadcast by his services during a council of ministers, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also denounced a “despicable anti-Semitic terrorist attack» and promised that his country “will use all means and deal with the murderers of Tzvi Kogan and those who sent them».
The Mossad, the powerful Israeli foreign intelligence service, has opened an investigation, Mr. Netanyahu's office said on Saturday, announcing the disappearance of the rabbi. He was already talking about the track “terrorist» which he had not, however, substantiated.
The United Arab Emirates is one of the Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords, promoted by Donald Trump during his first term in the White House.
Washington denounces “a horrible crime”
Israeli authorities, however, renewed the warning to Israelis to avoid all non-essential travel to the Gulf country and advised citizens already there to take additional precautions.
«This vile anti-Semitic attack reminds us of the inhumanity of the enemies of the Jewish people“, commented Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the social networkIt will not stop us from continuing to develop thriving communities in the UAE or elsewhere“, he assured. The Israeli Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, denounced, also ona cowardly and despicable anti-Semitic terrorist crime».
For its part, the United States denounced “a horrible crime against all those who defend peace, tolerance and coexistence», via a press release from the White House.
