Israeli official says Khashoggi death 'despicable', goal Iran greater challenge

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – An Israeli official on Friday called the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul "despicable" but said that cementing with Gulf states in the struggle against Iran was Israel's overriding concern.

In his remarks to radio station 102 FM, Minister of Energy Yuval Steinitz Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which has been reticent in commenting on the case.

Asked about Khashoggi's death, Steinitz said: "It was a despicable action. It's worthy of all reproach. This was a civilian, a journalist, not a terrorist. "

He went on to say, however, that Israel's struggle against Iran was more pressing.

"We have a threat that can become an existential threat – the threat of a nuclear Iran, the threat of terror, the threat of spreading through Syria and Lebanon. And Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, are allies in recent years against the spread of Iran and the Iranian nuclear threat, "he said.