Ankara: Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has retracted his earlier insulting remarks directed at Saudi Arabia, which he made during a conference organized by the Zomet Institute and the Makor Rishon newspaper. Smotrich, known for his extremist views, initially rejected any prospect of normalizing ties with Riyadh in exchange for the establishment of a Palestinian state.

According to Anadolu Agency, Smotrich expressed regret over his comments via his account on the US social media platform X, stating, "My statement about Saudi Arabia was definitely unsuccessful, and I regret the offense it caused." Despite his apology, he reiterated his expectation that Saudi Arabia should not undermine the Jewish people's heritage and rights in regions like Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and urged for the establishment of true peace.

Smotrich's initial comments included a dismissive suggestion for Saudis to "keep riding camels in the desert," contrasting it with Israel's focus on economic and societal development. These remarks sparked criticism from Israeli opposition leaders, with Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid Party emphasizing that Smotrich does not represent the State of Israel in his statement on X. Likewise, Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party labeled Smotrich's comments as reflective of ignorance and a lack of awareness of his responsibilities.

There has been no immediate response from Saudi Arabia regarding Smotrich's initial comments. The kingdom has consistently maintained that normalizing ties with Israel hinges on Tel Aviv's acceptance of a Palestinian state and the initiation of a serious political process toward that end.