Media: Israeli official apologises for "camel" remark about Saudi Arabia Amid diplomatic backlash

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has issued a partial apology after making remarks suggesting that Saudi Arabia could “keep riding camels” if it demanded the creation of a Palestinian state in exchange for normalising relations with Israel.

Speaking in a video posted on X, Smotrich said his comments were “unfortunate” and that he regretted “any offence they may have caused,” adding that he had not intended to insult the kingdom, Caliber.Az reports. 

The remarks sparked outrage both domestically and internationally. Critics accused Smotrich of undermining Israel’s efforts to expand ties with Arab states and damaging ongoing diplomatic outreach with Riyadh.

According to Israeli 12th channel, a senior diplomatic source said Smotrich’s comments “ruined six months of quiet work with Saudi Arabia” aimed at advancing normalisation. The incident has caused significant frustration within Israeli and regional diplomatic circles.

Additional reports revealed that when Smotrich travelled to India last month, he made an unpublicised stopover in Dubai, where a senior United Arab Emirates official personally called him for a tense conversation. The official emphasised the importance of the Abraham Accords and warned against statements that could jeopardise their expansion.

By Sabina Mammadli