Mossad and Emirati intelligence services are investigating the disappearance of an Israeli Jewish cleric in Abu Dhabi, amid reports that he was “kidnapped or killed” by “terrorist groups,” while Israeli reports indicated that these groups were linked to Iran or Turkey.

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office confirmed, in a statement issued on behalf of Mossad, on Saturday evening, that “the Israeli-Moldovan citizen and the Chabad movement’s envoy in the Emirates, Zvi Cogen, has disappeared since Thursday afternoon.”

The statement explained that, “based on information indicating that Cogen may have been involved in a terrorist incident, an intensive investigation has been opened in the Emirates.” The statement added that “Israeli intelligence and security services are working non-stop to follow up on the case and ensure Cogen’s safety.”

The Mossad noted that the Israeli National Security Council had issued a travel warning to the Emirates (at a medium level) due to potential terrorist threats. It called on travelers to avoid unnecessary visits and take strict security measures.

The Walla website quoted two informed sources as saying that the information available to Israel indicates “the possibility that the cleric was being monitored by ‘terrorist’ groups before his disappearance.”

The cleric's family had noted that they had lost contact with him in recent days, according to a report published by Yedioth Ahronoth.

The newspaper reported that Israeli security services are working to locate him in coordination with the Emirati authorities.

No further details have been published about the circumstances of his disappearance.