"Israel’s" National Security Council (NSC) on Sunday urged its citizens to avoid “non-essential travel” to the UAE after Rabbi Zvi Kogan, who had been missing since Thursday, was found dead.

 

In a statement reported by "Israel's" Channel 12, the council advised "Israelis" to “avoid visiting businesses, gathering places, and entertainment venues associated with the Israeli and Jewish population.”

 

Citizens were also instructed to exercise heightened vigilance in public places such as restaurants, hotels, and bars, avoid displaying "Israeli" symbols, and cooperate with local security forces.

 

The body of Kogan, a Chabad rabbi residing in the UAE, was discovered by Emirati authorities earlier on Sunday, according to a joint statement by the office of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministry.

 

Initial reports describe Kogan as an "Israeli" citizen of Moldovan origin who served as an assistant to the Chief Rabbi of Abu Dhabi.

 

On Saturday, Netanyahu’s office and the Mossad intelligence agency issued a statement confirming Kogan’s mysterious disappearance and the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding it.

 

Chabad, the organization Kogan was associated with, has drawn controversy for its hardline stances, including opposition to any agreements granting Palestinians territorial rights and calls for their expulsion.

 

Despite its controversial ideology, Chabad has a presence in several countries, including the US, Canada, France, and the UAE.

 

In the UAE, the group operates a Jewish community center with a synagogue and Torah scrolls, led by Rabbi Levi Duchman