Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has sparked global outrage after making a controversial statement about Saudi Arabia, rejecting any possibility of restoring diplomatic ties if it meant recognizing a Palestinian state.
During a conference in Jerusalem, Smotrich said sarcastically, “If Saudi Arabia demands a Palestinian state for normalization, then no, thank you. They can keep riding camels in the desert while we continue building our economy and nation.”
His remarks triggered fierce backlash from across Israel. Opposition leader Yair Lapid slammed the comments as ignorant and diplomatically disastrous, accusing the Netanyahu government of “acting like social media trolls instead of real leaders.”
Yair Golan, from the Democrats Party, linked Smotrich’s views to the mindset behind the October 7, 2023 attacks, warning that rejecting ties with Riyadh only strengthens Hamas and destabilizes the region further.
Facing mounting pressure, Smotrich later apologized, admitting his comments were inappropriate but insisting that Saudi Arabia should also recognize Israel’s historic and religious rights.
The controversy comes as the Israeli parliament moves toward annexing Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a plan opposed by Prime Minister Netanyahu but backed by his right-wing allies. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Israel against annexation ahead of his scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where Israel–Saudi normalization will top the agenda.