The United Arab Emirates announced Monday that police have arrested three Uzbek nationals in connection with the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, an incident that has raised concerns within the growing Israeli community in the country.
The Interior Ministry’s statement did not specify a motive for the killing of Zvi Kogan, although an Israeli Foreign Ministry official later told The Associated Press that he was “killed because of who he was.”
Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi, went missing on Thursday. He ran a kosher grocery store in Dubai, a city that has seen an influx of Israelis for business and tourism since the establishment of diplomatic ties under the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The agreement has endured over a year of escalating regional tensions following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its military campaign in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah, have heightened anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals, and expatriates in the UAE.
The Interior Ministry identified the arrested suspects as Olimboy Tohirovich, 28; Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28; and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33. Images released by the state-run WAM news agency show the suspects in prison uniforms with blindfolds covering their faces.
The preliminary investigation into the suspects is underway, with plans to refer them to public prosecution for further inquiries, according to the ministry’s statement.
A man walks past Rimon Market, a Kosher grocery store managed by the late Rabbi Zvi Kogan, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
It remains unclear if the suspects have legal representation or sought assistance from the Uzbek Consulate in Dubai, which has not responded to requests for comment.
Israeli media, citing unnamed security sources, previously reported suspicions of Uzbek involvement in the killing. Uzbeks and other transnational criminal networks have reportedly been implicated in past Iranian plots targeting dissidents and other individuals.
Although Iran has denied involvement, its history of operations in the UAE has fueled speculation. Iranian intelligence services have been linked to past kidnappings in the region, including high-profile cases in Dubai.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the UAE’s cooperation in investigating Kogan’s murder, emphasizing the importance of their relationship amidst regional instability.
The kosher grocery store Kogan managed in Dubai has been temporarily closed following the incident. The store had previously faced online protests linked to tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Kogan’s body was repatriated to Israel on Monday, with a funeral planned for the following day.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry official, speaking anonymously, reaffirmed the belief that Kogan’s murder was motivated by his identity as an ultra-Orthodox Jew.
Since the October 7 attacks, Jewish communities in the UAE have remained cautious, continuing worship in private settings while commending the Emirati government for its thorough investigation into Kogan’s death.
Despite diplomatic strains, the UAE has maintained its relations with Israel, balancing criticism of military actions in Gaza with ongoing dialogue and cooperation.
