Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have been in contact with the US administration to defend Saudi Crown Prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Washington Post reported.
The newspaper quoted sources as saying that Sisi and Netanyahu have in recent days contacted senior officials in the administration of President Donald Trump to express their support for Mohammed bin Salman, and they have made clear that the Saudi crown prince is an important strategic partner in the region.
The newspaper quoted the report as saying in a long report that Mohammed bin Salman described journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a "serious Islamic" and that he belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, in a telephone call - days after the disappearance of the journalist - with Jared Kouchner, son of the US president and his adviser, And with the White House national security adviser, John Bolton.
The Post noted that Israel, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have united behind Trump's efforts to pressure Iran and impose a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.
The newspaper also reported that Sisi and Netanyahu shared their view of the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, apparently referring to the context in which Mohammed bin Salman linked Khashoggi and the Muslim Brotherhood.