The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced Sunday that three suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, 28, a Moldovan national with Israeli citizenship who had been working in the UAE.The UAE announced Sunday that three suspects were arrested in connection with the alleged murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan, 28, a Moldovan national with Israeli citizenship who had been working in the country.
The UAE's Ministry of the Interior said the three suspects are from Uzbekistan: Olimpi Tohirovich, 28, Makhmudjon Abdurrahim, 28, and Azizi Kamilovich, 33.
Kogan, who went missing on Thursday, was found dead roughly 1.5 hours from Dubai in the city of Al Ain. He had been working for the Orthodox Jewish organization called Chabad, which brings religious and non-religious Jews together across the world.
In the wake of this murder, both Arab and Israeli authorities will work to condemn all violence and protect Jews around the world. Chabad emissaries will also reinforce their dedication to advancing Jewish life and resilience. Amid rising antisemitism and security threats, particularly from Iran, Jewish leaders and allies will intensify protective measures and prove that faith and unity are stronger than violence and evil.
While Israel has a right to speak about violence against Jews, there's been an equal rise in anti-Muslim violence over the past year. The rate of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian crimes in the US, for example, is up significantly. In Israel, too, the police have purposely neglected Arab communities, resulting in record homicide rates. The Arab diaspora deserves just as much recognition and protection as Israelis.
Though Israel was quick to blame Iran for the rabbi's murder, the real story is the continued failure of Israel's intelligence apparatus. Iran had nothing to do with what looks like an independent act of violence, but Israel, seeking to save face, blamed Tehran anyway as to not expose its shortcomings.