Widespread Criticism of Smotrich Following “Offensive” Remarks About Saudi Arabia and Subsequent Apology

Lebanon Today

Statements by “Bezalel Smotrich,” the Israeli Minister of Finance, sparked angry reactions due to offensive expressions he used towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, prompting him to issue a formal apology via the “X” platform.

During his participation in a political conference on Thursday morning, October 23, “Smotrich” addressed the issue of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, stating: “If Saudi Arabia tells us that normalization is in exchange for a Palestinian state, our answer is no, thank you.”

However, the right-wing minister did not stop at rejecting the idea but added a phrase that caused widespread resentment, saying: “Let them continue riding camels in the sands of the Saudi desert, and we will continue to develop in truth, in the economy, society, the state, and all the great and wonderful things that we know how to do.”

These statements were described in Israeli circles as “racist and offensive,” especially as they come at a time when “Tel Aviv” is seeking to strengthen relations with “Riyadh” within the framework of American efforts to revive the normalization track.

A number of Israeli officials were quick to express their rejection of “Smotrich’s” statements.

Where “Yair Lapid,” the opposition leader, wrote on the “X” platform: “To our friends in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, Smotrich does not represent the State of Israel,” demanding that the minister apologize immediately.

Former Defense Minister “Benny Gantz” also considered his words to “reflect ignorance and a lack of understanding of his responsibility as a senior minister in the government,” stressing that “such statements harm Israel and its international standing.”

Under pressure from increasing criticism, “Smotrich” returned on the evening of the same day to try to calm the situation, writing on the “X” platform: “My statement about Saudi Arabia was regrettable, and I express my regret for the insult it caused.”

Despite the apology, the minister stuck to his political position opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state, stressing that: “The entity called the State of Israel is the State of Israel within all its borders, which will never allow the emergence of a Palestinian state.”