In a surprising turn of events, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced the arrest of three Uzbek men in connection with the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi. Zvi Kogan, a 28-year-old ultra-Orthodox rabbi who managed a kosher grocery store in Dubai, had gone missing since Thursday. The killing has shocked the region, particularly because the UAE and Israel established diplomatic relations through the Abraham Accords in 2020.

Kogan’s store, located on Dubai's busy Al Wasl Road, was a popular spot for Israelis visiting for commerce and tourism. Despite regional tensions sparked by attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah, the peace agreement had largely held. However, Israel’s responses, including offensives in Gaza and Lebanon, have caused anger among Emiratis and other Arab nationals in the UAE.

The arrested Uzbek men are Olimpi Tohirovic (28), Mahmoud John Abdul Rahim (28), and Azizi Kamilovic (33). Their faces were blurred in the images released by the state-run WAM news agency. Authorities haven't disclosed the motive behind the murder or if charges have been filed.

Uzbeks have been involved in previous plots supported by Iran, which backs both Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran denies any involvement in Kogan's murder but has been threatening retaliation after Israel's recent airstrikes.

The UAE, while not mentioning Iran directly, has previously dealt with Iranian kidnappings and intelligence operations. There were notable cases like the kidnapping and death of British Iranian national Abbas Yazdi in 2013 and the arrest of Iranian German national Jamshid Sharmahd in 2020.

Kogan’s store was shut on Sunday, with mezuzahs on the doors appearing to have been torn off. His wife, Rivky, a U. S. citizen, is the niece of Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was killed in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

U. S. National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett condemned the killing, stating it was “a horrific crime against peace, tolerance, and coexistence. ” The international community awaits more details and further action from the UAE authorities.

INTERIOR MINISTRY

Murder of Rabbi Shocks UAE: Three Uzbeks Arrested

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