Khashoggi Death ‘Horrendous’ But Iran Is Worse, Netanyahu Says

(Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey last month should not distract the world from confronting Iran.

“What happened in the Istanbul consulate was horrendous and should be duly dealt with,” Netanyahu told reporters in Bulgaria on Friday as he attended a regional conference. “At the same time, it is very important for the stability of the world, for the region and for the world, that Saudi Arabia remain stable.” The remarks were distributed by his office in Jerusalem in a text message.

Netanyahu said Iran was responsible for “malign activities” in Europe, with plans for terrorist attacks thwarted in Paris and Copenhagen through the assistance of Israeli intelligence.

“Blocking Iran is uttermost on our agenda for security, not merely for Israel but I believe for Europe and the world as well,” the prime minister said. “I think that a way must be found to achieve both goals.”

The killing of Khashoggi has focused attention on the rule of Saudi Arabia's de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That's causing difficulties for the U.S. and Israel, which have both embraced the 33-year-old as central to their efforts to counter Iranian influence in the Middle East.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan Ferziger in Tel Aviv at jferziger@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael S. Arnold at marnold48@bloomberg.net, Mark Williams, Stuart Biggs

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