The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Monday, November 25, that the Emirati police had arrested three Uzbek nationals for their connection in the killing of Israeli-Moldovan Rabbi Zvi Kogan. Kogan’s body was found the previous day in the Emirati city of Al Ain, a couple of days after he went missing in Dubai.
According to media reports, Kogan was an emissary for a New-York-based Orthodox Jewish organization called Chabad in Dubai, where he also ran a Kosher grocery store. Moreover, Kogan previously served as a soldier in the Israeli Occupation Forces’ Givati Brigade, whose members have been involved in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza for the last year.
After Kogan was pronounced dead, Israeli and Western media accused Iran of being behind the killing incident before an investigation was carried out, and with no evidence being provided. Ynet wrote in a report that Kogan was “believed to have been kidnapped and murdered by an Uzbek terrorist cell acting under orders from Iran,” and affirmed, “The use of Uzbek Shiite operatives by Tehran is quite common.”
Speaking to Reuters, the Iranian Embassy in UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi denied the allegations.“We categorically reject the allegations made regarding Iran’s involvement in the murder of this individual,” the embassy said.
Meanwhile, the office of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement, describing the killing incident as “an abhorrent act of antisemitic terrorism” although the authorities in the UAE have not declared the motive of the attack yet. “The State of Israel will use all means and will deal with the criminals responsible for his death to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement added.
On Monday, the UAE Ministry of Interior released a statement containing the names of the three Uzbek suspects with images showing them blindfolded and handcuffed. The three men were identified as Olimpi Tohirovich (28), Makhmudjon Abdurrahim (28), and Azizi Kamilovich (33).
While investigations by the UAE authorities and the Israeli Mossad are underway to uncover the circumstances of the incident, the United States also announced its collaboration and support to the investigations.
“The United States is working in close coordination with Israeli and UAE authorities, and we have offered all appropriate forms of support. We commend the rapid efforts of UAE authorities who now have suspects in custody. Those who carried out this crime, and anyone supporting them, must be held fully accountable,” the White House said in a statement released on Monday.
Israel’s National Security Council also called on Israelis on Monday to avoid non-essential travel to the UAE, and those who are currently in the Gulf country to take some precautions, which include concealing anything that identifies them as Israelis. It is worth noting that the number of Israelis residing in the UAE is reportedly estimated at 2,000 individuals.
Whether the killing of Kogan has a mere criminal background, or was triggered by political or national motivations, the double-faced policies of the US have once again been put on display, which differ each time according to the identity of the victim.
