DUBAI — The United Arab Emirates announced on 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 UAE Interior Ministry’s statement did not provide a motive for the killing of Zvi Kogan. However, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official later told The Associated Press that Kogan was “killed because of who he was.”
Kogan, 28, an ultra-Orthodox rabbi who went missing on Thursday, managed a kosher grocery store in Dubai. The city has become a hub for Israelis seeking commerce and tourism since the UAE and Israel normalized relations through the 2020 Abraham Accords.
The accords have endured over a year of escalating regional tensions following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Israel’s subsequent retaliatory offensive in Gaza and its military operations in Lebanon, after months of conflict with Hezbollah, have provoked widespread anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals, and others residing in the UAE.
The Interior Ministry identified the three suspects as Olimboy Tohirovich, 28, Makhmudjon Abdurakhim, 28, and Azizbek Kamilovich, 33. The state-run WAM news agency released images of the three men in prison uniforms and blindfolds. The preliminary investigation is ongoing as authorities prepare to refer the case to public prosecution for further inquiry.
It remains unclear if the suspects have legal representation or have sought consular assistance. The Uzbek Consulate in Dubai has not responded to requests for comment.
Israeli media, citing unnamed security officials, suggested Uzbek nationals were involved in Kogan’s killing. Uzbeks and other transnational criminal groups have previously been implicated in Iranian plots targeting dissidents and other individuals.
While the UAE’s statement did not mention Iran, Israeli media speculated on potential connections. Iran has a history of intelligence operations in the UAE, including past kidnappings. In 2013, British-Iranian national Abbas Yazdi was kidnapped and killed in Dubai, and in 2020, Iranian-German national Jamshid Sharmahd was abducted and later executed in Tehran.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indirectly referenced Iran in his comments on Kogan’s killing, stating, “I greatly appreciate the cooperation of the UAE in investigating the murder. We will strengthen the ties between us in the face of attempts by the axis of evil to harm the relationship of peace between us.”
The Rimon Market, the kosher grocery store managed by Kogan on Dubai’s Al Wasl Road, remained closed on Sunday. The store had faced online protests by pro-Palestinian activists during the ongoing regional conflicts. Mezuzahs on the store’s doors appeared to have been removed.
Kogan’s body was repatriated to Israel on Monday for a funeral scheduled the following day. An Israeli Foreign Ministry official, speaking anonymously, stated that Kogan was targeted due to his identity as an ultra-Orthodox Jew. “He was attacked because of who he was,” the official said.
Since the October 7 attacks, tensions have heightened for Israelis and Jews in the UAE. Worship continues but no longer occurs at previously used community sites. Despite underlying tensions, the Israeli official praised the Emirati government for its handling of the investigation, noting the involvement of Israeli security services, likely including the Mossad.
While the UAE has criticized Israeli military actions in Gaza, it has maintained diplomatic relations with Israel. Humanitarian aid has been facilitated through ongoing dialogue. The Israeli official remarked, “They might not agree with what we do in the war … but the dialogue allows them to send in all the humanitarian aid. It’s been challenging to the relationship, but in a way, that keeps it strong.”
