Rav Tzvi Kogan, a Chabad shaliach in the Emirati city of Abu Dhabi, has been missing for several days and Israeli security officials fear he was abducted or murdered, chalilah.
Kogan, who serves as an assistant to the Chief Rabbi of the UAE, Rav Levi Duchmanm and manages the kosher supermarket in Abu Dhabi, has not been in touch with his wife since Wednesday. He missed scheduled meetings that day and after his wife failed to reach him by phone, she called the Chabad House’s security officer who contacted the security authorities.
The Mossad is involved in the case and they believe that Rav Kogan may have been under surveillance by hostile terrorist elements on behalf of Iran. He disappeared from a location about an hour and a half from Dubai. It appears the murderers may have escaped to Turkey, but it is unclear where his body was transferred.
Israeli security sources told Ynet that “we know they were following him in the kosher supermarket he managed in Abu Dhabi. This week Kogan and Duchman were in Israel. On Tuesday, they met with the new Israeli ambassador to the UAE Yossi Shelley at the Prime Minister’s Office and returned to the Emirates on Wednesday. After that, he disappeared. We understand that those responsible fled to Turkey. His body has not been found.”
Israeli intelligence officials have traveled to the Emirates to investigate the case together with Emirati authorities, who are leading the investigation. However, although the UAE is one of the most heavily surveilled countries in the world and security cameras are everyone, Emirati authorities have not yet provided any significant leads.
The Prime Minister’s Office stated on behalf of the Mossad: “Tzvi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan citizen and Chabad shaliach residing in the UAE, has been missing since Thursday afternoon. Since his disappearance, amid information suggesting it is a terrorist incident, an intensive investigation has been launched in the country. Israeli intelligence and security agencies are working tirelessly out of concern for his safety and well-being.”
“It should be noted that the National Security Council has long issued a travel warning at level 3 (medium threat) for the UAE and recommended avoiding non-essential travel to the destination, as well as taking increased precautions for those staying there.”
An Israeli who lives in Abu Dhabi told i24 News: “He and his wife are very involved in the community. They organize events, Friday nights, dinners. Really quiet and nice people. It’s shocking that something like this could happen in such a secure place. There are cameras everywhere here. It probably happened elsewhere.”
Another Israeli said: “His family is devastated and the Israeli and Jewish kehilla is in shock.”
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Topic: Chabad Shaliach murdered by terrorists in Abu Dhabi, UAE (Read 3891 times)