Bezalel Smotrich
Israel Approves 764 New Housing Units in West Bank Settlements Despite International Opposition
Dec 11, 2025 02:54 am CST
Israel has authorized the construction of 764 new housing units across three West Bank settlements, bringing the total approvals to over 51,000 since 2022. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich frames this as strategic strengthening of Israeli presence, while international bodies continue to deem such settlements illegal under international law. Settler-related violence against Palestinians has meanwhile reached record levels.
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.