Israeli Minister Apologizes for Controversial "Keep Riding Camels" Remark to Saudi Arabia Amid Stalled Normalization Talks

Oct 23, 2025 11:46 pm CST

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issued an apology for his controversial remarks telling Saudi Arabia to "keep riding camels" if they demanded a Palestinian state in exchange for diplomatic normalization. The incident highlights the complex diplomatic tensions in the Middle East following the Gaza conflict, with normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia remaining frozen since Hamas's October 2023 attack.