Sun Nov 24 15:47:13 UTC 2024: ## Israeli Rabbi Murdered in UAE: Condemnation and Investigation

**Dubai, UAE – November 24, 2024** – Israel has condemned the murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan national, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as an anti-Semitic terrorist attack. Kogan, a representative of the Chabad Hasidic movement, was found dead after being reported missing since Thursday. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office and foreign ministry issued a joint statement confirming the death and vowing to pursue the perpetrators to the full extent of the law.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the murder “an abhorrent anti-Semitic terrorist attack” during a cabinet meeting, promising that Israel would utilize all available means to bring those responsible to justice. President Isaac Herzog echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the murder would not deter the growth of Jewish communities in the UAE. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the killing as a “cowardly and despicable anti-Semitic terrorist crime.”

While Israeli officials did not release details surrounding the murder, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Kogan was murdered by terrorists after being abducted. The UAE has yet to officially confirm Kogan’s death, though an Emirati official stated on Saturday that the Foreign Ministry was in contact with Kogan’s family and the Moldovan embassy and that an investigation was underway. However, no further information has been released by Emirati authorities.

Following the incident, Israel issued a renewed warning advising Israelis to avoid non-essential travel to the UAE and urging those already in the country to exercise heightened caution. Moldova’s embassy in Abu Dhabi is cooperating with local officials and monitoring the situation.

This incident comes amidst heightened tensions in the region following the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel. A separate incident in Jordan, where a man opened fire near the Israeli embassy in Amman, wounding three security forces and resulting in his own death, has also been labeled a terrorist attack. Investigations are ongoing in both cases. The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, presents itself as a tolerant and safe nation, highlighting the stark contrast between this image and the recent events.

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