A flag of the United Arab Emirates. Illustration by AFP.
Israel announced on Sunday the murder of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi in the United Arab Emirates, condemning it as an "odious act of anti-Semitic terrorism" that has sparked widespread outrage in the country.
The body of Tzvi Kogan, who had been missing since Thursday, was found by Emirati authorities, according to the Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"This murder is an odious act of anti-Semitic terrorism," they stated in a joint statement, adding that "the State of Israel will use all means at its disposal to ensure that justice is served and that those responsible for his death are held accountable for their actions."
No details were provided about the location where the body was found, the circumstances of the murder, or the identity of the suspects.
The Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, has opened an investigation, the office of Prime Minister Netanyahu announced on Saturday, revealing the rabbi's disappearance and hinting at a "terrorist" motive, though no details were provided to substantiate this theory.
The circumstances surrounding the rabbi's death remain extremely unclear.
The United Arab Emirates is one of the Arab countries that normalized relations with Israel as part of the 2020 Abraham Accords, brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, Israeli authorities have reiterated their warning to Israelis to avoid all non-essential travel to the Gulf nation and have advised citizens already there to take additional precautions.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz also condemned the "cowardly and despicable anti-Semitic terrorist crime" on X.
The UAE has made no comment. On Saturday, Emirati authorities stated they "immediately launched search operations" to find Tzvi Kogan, describing him as Moldovan without mentioning his Israeli nationality.
A federation of seven emirates tightly controlled by the ruling family, the UAE prides itself on being a tolerant and safe country. The wealthy oil state, where the vast majority of the population are expatriates, opened an interfaith center last year in the capital, Abu Dhabi, housing a mosque, church, and synagogue.
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