Netanyahu condemns killing of Khashoggi as "horrible" but says Iran is the biggest threat

ISTANBUL – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the badbadination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi as "horrible", but warned against any reaction likely to destabilize the political status quo in Riyadh.

Khashoggi was last seen last Friday while he was entering the consulate from Istanbul to Istanbul to retrieve a personal document. Turkish officials claimed that he was seized and strangled almost immediately by a strike group sent from Riyadh and that his body was subsequently dismembered.

Israel remained silent throughout the ensuing global storm, although Western officials said behind the scenes that they told the Trump administration that Saudi Arabia was an important strategic partner in a region where US policy was aimed at countering Iran.

"What happened in the Istanbul consulate has been horrible and must be remedied. However, at the same time, I say it is very important for the stability of the world, for the region and for the world, that Saudi Arabia remains stable, "said Netanyahu, expressing in the Bulgarian city of Varna.

"I think we need to find a way to achieve both of these goals. Because the most important problem is Iran and we must make sure that Iran does not continue its evil activities. "

[Khashoggi death throws new light on Saudi prince’s crackdown on dissent]

The badbadination of Khashoggi poses a dilemma to the Trump administration, which is increasingly calling on the government to take punitive action against one of its key Middle East allies and one of the most major importers of US weapons.

Netanyahu also noted the improved relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as several other Arab countries, in recent months. This sometimes refers to what he sees as a shared strategic threat of Iran; On other occasions, he mentioned it in the broader context of a regional peace plan that would bypbad Palestinians.

Analysts suggested Friday that Netanyahu had decided to publicly support Saudi Arabia and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, to encourage the feeling of debt in the future. .

"Netanyahu also sees here the opportunity to score points with bin Salman in case he stays in power and continues to lead Saudi Arabia," said Ofer Zalzberg, Crisis Group's senior badyst for Israel and the United States. Palestine.

Such a show of public support by the Crown Prince at a sensitive political moment could have "significant potential long-term gains," Zalzberg said.

[Trump and the Saudis keep fumbling after Khashoggi’s killing]

Elsewhere, the aftermath of Khashoggi's killing continued on Friday as Norway announced it had convened its Saudi ambbadador.

"We talked about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and presented our point of view to the Saudi ambbadador several times after he knew of it," said Ine Eriksen, Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs, in a statement. "We have emphasized how seriously we take this problem."

Human rights groups have also stepped up calls for action against the Saudi government, citing the chilling effect Khashoggi's killing would have on human rights defenders around the world.

"The badbadination of Jamal Khashoggi was not only meant to silence one man, but also to intimidate and suppress the voices of contestation on the other side of the borders," said Summer Lopez, senior director PEN International's free expression programs. "This poses a threat not only to the journalists, not to the critics of the Saudi government, but to all those who defend human rights and the truth."

Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

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