Israeli Rabbi Found Dead in UAE; Israel Vows Justice in Antisemitic Terror Attack.

In a shocking development, Israeli authorities have announced the tragic death of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan Chabad representative who went missing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday. The Israeli government has declared the incident a "heinous antisemitic terror incident," vowing to pursue justice for those responsible.

Rabbi Kogan, who lived and worked in the UAE, was last seen on Thursday in Dubai. His disappearance sparked immediate concern and led to an extensive search operation by Emirati authorities. The discovery of his body has sent shockwaves through the Jewish community in the UAE and beyond.

While Israeli officials have not explicitly named Iran as the perpetrator, suspicions of Iranian involvement have been raised due to recent tensions between the two countries. Iran has a history of conducting intelligence operations in the UAE, including past kidnappings. The timing of this incident is particularly concerning, as it follows recent threats of retaliation from Iran against Israel after exchanges of fire in October.

The Israeli government, in a joint statement from the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has pledged to "act with all means to seek justice with the criminals responsible for his death". This strong response underscores the severity with which Israel views this attack on one of its citizens abroad.

This tragic event has raised concerns about the safety of Jewish individuals in the UAE, despite the diplomatic recognition of Israel by the UAE in 2020 and the growing Jewish presence in the country. It also highlights the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the potential for such conflicts to spill over into countries seeking to maintain neutrality.

As investigations continue, the international community watches closely, awaiting further developments in this disturbing case that has once again brought issues of antisemitism and regional security to the forefront of global attention.