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Israel's Finance Minister Rejects Palestinian State for Saudi Deal

10/23/2025

Summary

Story summary

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, said he would not back a Saudi-Israel normalization agreement if it required establishing a Palestinian state.
During a conference, he told Saudis to "keep riding camels," drawing widespread criticism from opposition leaders who accused him of ignorance.
Smotrich apologized for the offensive statement but maintained opposition to Palestinian statehood, and Saudi Arabia says normalization requires a clear statehood path, a stance Netanyahu's government opposes.

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Story summary

Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, said he would not back a Saudi-Israel normalization agreement if it required establishing a Palestinian state.
During a conference, he told Saudis to "keep riding camels," drawing widespread criticism from opposition leaders who accused him of ignorance.
Smotrich apologized for the offensive statement but maintained opposition to Palestinian statehood, and Saudi Arabia says normalization requires a clear statehood path, a stance Netanyahu's government opposes.