Smotrich's Saudi Remarks Threaten Normalization

Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sparked a diplomatic backlash after saying Israel would reject any Saudi normalization tied to a Palestinian state, mocking Riyadh with “keep riding camels in the desert.” He apologized for causing offense but defended advancing “de facto sovereignty” in the West Bank and said Saudi Arabia should not deny Jewish heritage and rights in Judea and Samaria. Opposition leaders including Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz condemned the remarks and called for damage control. The comments risk complicating U.S.-led normalization efforts and clash with Riyadh’s stated condition of a time-bound path toward a future Palestinian state, and they have intensified concern given Smotrich’s long record of advocating settlement expansion and annexation.