NYT headline about murdered rabbi draws criticism

A headline by The New York Times about the murder of a Dubai rabbi sparked outrage after people said it downplayed the severity of the incident.

Rabbi Zvi Kogan was reported missing on Nov. 21. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted on X Sunday that his body was found.

“The murder of Zvi Kogan, of blessed memory, is an abhorrent act of antisemitic terrorism. The State of Israel will use all means and will deal with the criminals responsible for his death to the fullest extent of the law,” the post said.

Mr. Kogan, an Israeli-Moldovan, lived in Abu Dhabi to lead a Jewish community there.

The original New York Times headline was “Israeli Rabbi Who Disappeared in Dubai Is Found Dead,” which drew ire.

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the Rabbi was “not ‘found dead,’ he was murdered.”

“There is a disturbing pattern whereby some in the media — and particularly the @nytimes — downplay antisemitic acts,” he wrote in an X post Sunday. “It must be called out and addressed.”

Rep. Ritchie Torres, New York Democrat, wrote in an X post, “Contrary to the NY Times, Rabbi Zvi Kogan did not just ‘disappear’ in Dubai. He was abducted and murdered because he was a Jew. The media should call the kidnapping and killing of Rabbi Kogan exactly what it is: an act of antisemitic terror.”

The United Arab Emirates announced the arrest of three Uzbeks in connection with the murder.

“The Ministry warned clearly and firmly that it will use all available legal powers to deal severely and without leniency with anyone who dares to take any actions or acts that seek to destabilize society or threaten its security, stressing its full readiness to take the utmost deterrent measures to ensure the protection of the gains of coexistence and social peace in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” the UAE said in a statement Sunday.

Now a search of The Times’ article produces a story headlined, “Rabbi Found Dead in Dubai in What Israel Calls Terrorist Act.”