Smotrich to Saudi Arabia: If You Want a Palestinian State in Exchange for Normalization, Keep Riding Camels

SadaNews - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made racist remarks about Saudi Arabia today, Thursday, stating: "If the Saudis want a Palestinian state in exchange for normalization, let them continue riding camels."

This came during his participation in a conference held by the "Zomet Institute" and the newspaper "Makor Rishon" titled "Sharia in the Technological Age" in occupied Jerusalem.

In his speech, Smotrich said: "Sovereignty (referring to the annexation of the occupied West Bank) is the test point. If Saudi Arabia tells us: normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, the answer is no, thank you. Keep riding camels in the desert in Saudi Arabia," he expressed.

The far-right minister added that his refusal to link normalization to the establishment of a Palestinian state "expresses a principled commitment to Israeli sovereignty over the land," according to Israeli media reports quoting Smotrich.

Smotrich's remarks came a day after the Knesset voted on a preliminary reading of a bill legalizing the annexation of the West Bank, which aims to "impose Israeli sovereignty" over settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The law was passed despite opposition to its timing from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pressure from the U.S. administration, which warned of the implications of this step on Israeli-Saudi relations and the course of regional normalization.

Members of the "Religious Zionism" party, contrary to the position of the coalition, supported the law presented by Knesset members from the opposition, which practically contradicts Saudi demands, which, according to reports, involve establishing a Palestinian state or at least setting a "path" toward such a state in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel.

Smotrich stated that his party and right-wing parties "suffer from historical trauma, as every time we embrace world nations, it ends with exploding buses," he said. He added: "There is no need to say no directly, but we must be cautious."

In related news, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is preparing to visit the White House and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on November 18, marking his first visit to Washington since Trump's return to power.