Rabi's disappearance from the United Arab Emirates is causing concern in Israel

An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, and Israeli authorities raised suspicions on Saturday that he may have been abducted as the situation escalates with Iran.

Israeli media, citing unnamed security sources, reported that Zvi Kogan, who had been missing since noon on Thursday, may have been kidnapped. The Israeli prime minister's office on Saturday night acknowledged Kogan's disappearance, without elaborating.

His disappearance comes as Iran has been threatening to retaliate against Israel after it launched a strike in October that hit critical military facilities in the country. Tehran has launched two attacks on Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon.

“Since [Kogan’s] with the disappearance, and because of the information that this was a terrorist incident, a thorough investigation has been opened in the country,” said the prime minister's office. the safety of Zvi Kogan.”

Early on Sunday, the UAE-owned WAM news agency acknowledged Kogan's disappearance but denied that he held Israeli citizenship, calling him only Moldovan. The Emirati Ministry of Interior described Kogan as “missing and incommunicado.”

“Special authorities immediately started search and investigation operations after receiving the report,” said the Ministry of Interior.

The Emirati Foreign Ministry separately described the Interior Ministry's search as involving “extensive measures.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is “close to his family to provide them with all possible support,” he added.

The UAE is the governing body of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and is home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Local Jewish officials in the UAE declined to comment.

Previous captivity

While the Israeli statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence has carried out kidnappings in the past in the UAE.

Western officials believe that Iran is conducting intelligence operations in the UAE and is monitoring hundreds of thousands of Iranians living in the country.

Iran is accused of kidnapping and later killing British Iranian citizen Abbas Yazdi in Dubai in 2013, although Tehran denies any involvement. Iran also kidnapped Iranian-German Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020 from Dubai, returning him to Tehran, where he was executed in October.

Iranian media later acknowledged Kogan's disappearance, without elaborating.

The UAE officially recognized Israel in 2020. Since then, Israelis have been coming to the UAE for business and vacations. Emirati Airlines has become Israel's key link to the rest of the world, as other airlines have stopped flying to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv between the wars.

The UAE also has a growing Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses serving kosher meals. However, the wars in the Mideast have created deep resentment among Emiratis, Arab citizens from other states and others living in the UAE.