An Israeli rabbi, Zvi Kogan, has been kidnapped in Dubai, raising fears of Iranian involvement amid ongoing regional tensions following Israeli air strikes on Iranian positions. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Mossad’s investigation of the incident, which is being treated as terrorism. Kogan, a Chabad emissary in the UAE since 2020, was allegedly abducted by an Iranian-directed cell.
An Israeli rabbi has reportedly been kidnapped in the United Arab Emirates, raising significant concerns regarding potential Iranian involvement. Identified as Zvi Kogan, the rabbi was working as a Chabad emissary in Abu Dhabi and may have been under surveillance by Iranian intelligence. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has confirmed that the Mossad is investigating this incident, which has been classified as a terrorist act.
Kogan, a dual Israeli-Moldovan national, has held his position since the normalization of diplomatic relations between Israel and the UAE in late 2020. Reports indicate that he was abducted in Dubai from a kosher supermarket he managed, allegedly by a cell linked to Iran that has since fled to Turkey. Although Israel has yet to formally accuse Iran of involvement in the kidnapping, Western intelligence suggests that Iran conducts espionage operations throughout the UAE.
This situation echoes the abduction of German-Iranian citizen Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020, who was seized by Iranian agents and later executed in Iran. Kogan’s kidnapping appears to be linked to heightened tensions following Israeli air strikes on Iranian military targets on October 26, 2024, which reportedly incapacitated Iran’s air defense capabilities.
The kidnapping of Zvi Kogan in the UAE highlights the precarious security environment in the region, particularly concerning Israeli-Iranian relations. Following the establishment of normalized ties between Israel and the UAE, many Israeli nationals have moved to the Emirates, thus increasing the stakes in cases of abduction or espionage. In recent years, several instances of Iranian intelligence activities targeting Israelis and Iranian dissidents in the UAE have been reported, raising alarms within Israeli security circles, particularly in light of ongoing conflicts and military engagements.
In conclusion, the abduction of Rabbi Zvi Kogan in Dubai marks a troubling development amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. The incident underscores the risks faced by Israelis abroad, particularly in the Gulf region where Iranian influence and operations may pose significant threats. This event may prompt further investigations and increased vigilance by Israeli intelligence agencies to protect its citizens in foreign territories.
Original Source: www.iranintl.com
