Jerusalem, November 24: Israel has advised its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the discovery of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan's body. Rabbi Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan outreach rabbi with the Chabad movement, was found dead after being missing since Thursday. He worked in Abu Dhabi and also ran a kosher grocery store. He is survived by his wife, a US national.
Israel's National Security Council (NSC) has labeled the UAE's threat level to Israeli citizens as "moderate." The NSC advises Israelis to avoid businesses and venues linked to Israelis or Jews, refrain from displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols, and not to share travel details on social media. Vigilance in public areas is also recommended.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack as antisemitic and praised the UAE authorities for their swift response. He expressed confidence in their efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. Reports suggest the attackers may be Uzbek nationals working for Iran, who have fled to Turkey.
This incident occurs amid a rise in attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets globally since the October 7 massacres by Hamas. Israel has issued travel warnings for several Middle Eastern countries. Israel and the UAE established diplomatic relations with the signing of the Abraham Accords in September 2020.
A Rabbi is a Jewish religious leader or teacher. They help guide people in their faith and lead religious services.
UAE stands for the United Arab Emirates, a country in the Middle East known for its modern cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
A travel warning is an alert issued by a government to advise its citizens to be cautious or avoid traveling to certain places due to safety concerns.
The National Security Council is a group in the government that helps make decisions about the safety and security of a country.
Antisemitic means being against Jewish people or their religion, Judaism. It involves prejudice or discrimination against Jews.
Uzbek nationals are people from Uzbekistan, a country in Central Asia. Nationals means they are citizens of that country.
Iran is a country in the Middle East, known for its rich history and culture. It shares borders with countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Abraham Accords are agreements made in 2020 between Israel and some Arab countries, including the UAE, to improve their relationships and work together peacefully.
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