Smotrich Apologizes to Saudi Arabia After Controversial Statement and Expects No Impact on Relations
October 23, 202572 ViewsRead Time: 2 minutes
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The Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, today, Thursday, issued an official apology to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after a statement that many described as offensive.
Through his account on the "X" platform, Smotrich wrote:
"My statement regarding Saudi Arabia was certainly not successful, and I apologize for the offense it caused. However, I expect 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, and to establish true peace with us."
The minister's apology came after widespread controversy sparked by a previous statement in which he said:
"If Saudi Arabia tells us: normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, friends, no thank you. Keep riding camels in the Saudi desert."
In the context of the Israeli annexation of the West Bank, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Israel would lose all forms of American support if it proceeded with the annexation. He emphasized, in an interview with "Time" magazine, that any move towards annexation would not happen due to American commitments to Arab countries and previous Arab support.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also expressed concern that the Knesset's vote on the annexation bill could jeopardize the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and hinder American peace efforts, noting that "moving down this path now would have a counterproductive effect and would not serve the common goals between Washington and Tel Aviv."
In contrast, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance expressed his discontent with the Knesset's vote, saying he "felt deceived" after being informed that the step was merely symbolic, describing the decision as a "stupid act" that left him confused and extremely upset.
The Knesset's plenum had approved in the preliminary reading a bill to apply Israeli sovereignty over lands in the West Bank, after 25 members voted in favor and 24 opposed, a bill presented by member Avi Maoz.
