Rabbi's disappearance in the United Arab Emirates prompts concern in Israel

An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion on Saturday that he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran.

Israeli media, citing unnamed security sources, reported that Zvi Kogan, who has been missing since noon 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 hitsensitive military bases in the country. Tehran has twice launched missile attacks on Israel amid the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli ground offensive in Lebanon.

"Since [Kogan's] disappearance, and against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country," the prime minister's office said. "Israeli intelligence and security agencies are working continuously out of concern for the well-being and safety of Zvi Kogan."

Early Sunday, the U.A.E.'s state-run WAM news agency acknowledged Kogan's disappearance but pointedly did not acknowledge he held Israeli citizenship, referring to him only as being Moldovan. The Emirati Interior Ministry described Kogan as being "missing and out of contact."

"Specialized authorities immediately began search and investigation operations upon receiving the report," the Interior Ministry said.

The Emirati Foreign Affairs Ministry separately described the Interior Ministry search as involving "extensive measures."

The Foreign Affairs Ministry "is in close contact with his family to provide them with all means of necessary support," it added.

The U.A.E. is an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Local Jewish officials in the U.A.E. declined to comment.

Previous kidnappings

While the Israeli statement did not mention Iran, Iranian intelligence services have carried out past kidnappings in the U.A.E.

Western officials believe Iran runs intelligence operations in the U.A.E. and keeps tabs on the hundreds of thousands of Iranians living inthe country.

Iran is suspected of kidnapping and later killing British Iranian national Abbas Yazdi in Dubai in 2013, though Tehran has denied involvement. Iran also kidnapped Iranian German national Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020 from Dubai, taking him back to Tehran, where he was executed in October.

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

The U.A.E. diplomatically recognized Israel in 2020. Since then, Israelis have come to the U.A.E. to set up businesses and vacation. Emirati airlines have been a key link for Israel to the rest of the world, as other carriers have stopped flying to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv amid the wars.

The U.A.E. also has a burgeoning Jewish community, with synagogues and businesses catering to kosher diners. However, the Mideast wars have sparked deep anger among Emiratis, Arab nationals from other states and others living in the U.A.E.