Khaberni - Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich commented on his statement that "Saudis should continue riding camels", which sparked angry reactions in the Middle East and led him to apologize, attacking the kingdom once again.
During a meeting of the "Religious Zionism" party block, the party leader, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, referred to his derogatory statement about Saudi Arabia, saying: "Well, I made an unfortunate statement, and unfortunately, we insulted the Saudis. What’s the problem, I wonder? Where were you when the Saudis, for two years, were accusing Israeli soldiers of genocide and starvation? When they supported actions against Israel in international courts and arrest warrants against the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense?" he said.
Smotrich added: "This is a thousand times more insulting than an unplanned and unsuccessful statement by a finance minister of Israel. The Saudis said things about us that were much more insulting. They were partners in anti-Semitic statements and no one asked them to apologize. They are demanding the tearing apart of Israel into two halves and want to establish a terrorist state among us. But it's okay. They are allowed to," he described.
The extreme minister had sparked widespread anger in a statement that said, "If Saudi Arabia tells us: normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, my friends, no thanks. Continue riding camels in the Saudi desert."
Smotrich had apologized very shortly after this statement, posting on his X account: "My statement regarding Saudi Arabia certainly wasn't successful, and I am sorry for the insult it caused", adding: "However, at the same time, I expect from the Saudis not to harm us and not to deny the heritage, traditions, and rights of the Jewish people in their historical homeland in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), and to establish true peace with us."
