Saudi Royal Source on Smotrich's "Camels" Remark: "We Don't Take Them Seriously"

A source within the Saudi Royal Court has strongly dismissed recent remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who suggested that if Saudi Arabia conditions normalization with Israel on a Palestinian state, they should "keep riding camels in the desert." The Saudi source stated to N12 that Riyadh does not consider Smotrich or National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as figures whose statements are taken seriously, and they made it clear that normalization will not happen under the current Israeli government.

Smotrich made the controversial comments at a conference on Thursday, sparking widespread criticism from across the political spectrum, including from within the Israeli government. Hours after the uproar, he issued an apology for his "unsuccessful statement that caused offense."

The Saudi Royal Court source minced no words when reacting to the incident: "We don't care about the nonsense of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, normalization will not occur during the period of an extreme right-wing government."

The Sovereignty Sticking Point

Smotrich's initial comment centered on the issue of sovereignty, specifically referring to the area the article refers to as Judea and Samaria. "If Saudi Arabia tells us normalization in exchange for a Palestinian state, friends, no thank you, keep riding camels in the desert in Saudi Arabia," the minister said. "We will continue to develop with an economy, society, and state, and with all the great things we know how to do. The State of Israel is the State of Israel in all its borders, and it will never establish a Palestinian state."

Veteran Saudi analyst Abdulaziz Al Khamis, who visited the Knesset in July, also addressed Smotrich's slight. "This is not the first time we've heard this. So yes, we are Bedouins. We have camels, sheep, milk, a tent, and a desert. But he should look at Riyadh, at our cities, and compare them to where he lives now," Al Khamis stated to N12. "While we have a desert and camels, we are working hard to become one of the safest and most beautiful nations. And we have done that. Now we have a good economy, a good lifestyle, and I think our cities are better than those where others live."

Political Backlash and Apology

Smotrich's comments drew immediate condemnation. Opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on the X platform in Arabic, "To our friends in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, Smotrich does not represent Israel." Cabinet member Minister Amichai Chikli also rebuked the remarks, suggesting in a post that he would welcome a camel race in the Negev with the Bedouin community.

Smotrich later released a video statement apologizing for his "unsuccessful statement" but used the opportunity to reinforce his political position, saying he expects "the Saudis not to harm us and not to deny the heritage, tradition, and rights of the Jewish people to the historical parts of their homeland in Judea and Samaria, and to establish true peace with us."

Riyadh's Conditions

The Saudi Royal Court source reiterated that the Kingdom is focused on facts over rhetoric. "We don't care about the nonsense of Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, we don't see them as people whose words are taken seriously," the source emphasized. "Normalization will not occur during the period of an extreme right-wing government that does not recognize the rights of the Palestinian people."

The source repeated the standing Saudi position: only when a government is established that believes in "true and sustainable peace, the two-state solution, and the rights of the Palestinian people, will there be normalization and genuine peace in the region."

"We expect worse things from Smotrich and Ben-Gvir than such statements," the source added, underscoring that Riyadh does not take their comments as seriously as those made by Prime Minister Netanyahu, despite political disagreements with the latter.