Israel’s intelligence and security agencies are probing the disappearance of an Israeli-Moldovan dual citizen in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a potential terrorist incident, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed on Saturday. Rabbi Zvi Kogan, an emissary of the Chabad movement in the UAE, has been missing since Thursday. Kogan, who managed a kosher supermarket in Dubai and is married to an American woman, was last seen leaving his store.
The PMO, speaking on behalf of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad and the National Security Council (NSO), indicated that there is evidence suggesting the possibility of a terrorist attack. “An active investigation is ongoing, and Israeli security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure Kogan’s safety,” the statement read.
The UAE Foreign Ministry has also been closely monitoring the situation, coordinating efforts with the Moldovan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and supporting Kogan’s family. “Extensive measures are being implemented in the search,” said UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Majed Al Mansoori.
Kogan’s abandoned car was found in Al Ain, about 90 minutes from Dubai, and his phone was reportedly switched off. Mossad believes Kogan may have been abducted by an Uzbek terrorist cell, following him after he left his store.
This incident comes as the Israeli NSO’s travel advisory service has listed the UAE as a moderate threat for Israeli citizens, citing potential “terrorist activity.” Despite the formal diplomatic ties between the UAE and Israel established in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, security concerns remain.
