Israeli Minister Smotrich Rejects Saudi Normalization, “Continue Riding Camels”

The remarks by Bezalel Smotrich came during an October 23, 2025 conference focused on sovereignty and technology. This occurs amid ongoing efforts to expand the 2020 Abraham Accords, which Saudi Arabia insists must include progress on Palestinian independence.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the far-right leader of the Religious Zionism party, addressed the normalization talks at the conference organized by the Tzomet Institute and Makor Rishon newspaper.

Smotrich, who also serves as finance minister, dismissed the central Saudi condition.

If Saudi Arabia tells us normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, then friends, no thank you.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

A Threat To Sovereignty

Smotrich emphasized that "sovereignty is the litmus test," particularly regarding Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).

He elaborated on his rejection of the Saudi terms:

Continue riding camels on the sands in the desert in Saudi Arabia... We will continue to develop our economy and society.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich

Consistent Coalition Resistance

The finance minister's stance is not new; he has consistently opposed Palestinian statehood, which he views as a threat.

In February 2025, he stated normalization "cannot come with the prospect" of such a state. He repeated this in June 2025, telling Arab states: "if it wants a Palestinian state, forget it."These statements complicate efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expand the 2020 Abraham Accords.

Saudi Arabia has maintained its position, reaffirmed as recently as June 2025, that any deal is conditional on an independent Palestinian state.

Smotrich and other far-right coalition partners have actively resisted this, supporting a recent Knesset bill to advance sovereignty over the West Bank, which passed a preliminary reading despite U.S. opposition.