In a bold statement on Thursday, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dismissed the possibility of normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia if it were contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian state. Speaking at a conference hosted by the Tzomet Institute, Smotrich declared, “If Saudi Arabia tells us that normalization is in exchange for a Palestinian state, then no thank you, my friends.” He further added, “Keep riding your camels in the Saudi desert. We’ll continue to develop our economy, society, and state with all the great things we know how to do.” This statement comes amid heightened tensions in the region, as Israel’s parliament passed a preliminary reading of a bill to annex the occupied West Bank. The move has drawn criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, which labeled it as an attempt to embarrass the government during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit. The bill, introduced by Avi Maoz of the far-right Noam party, requires three additional Knesset votes to become law. Israel’s repeated threats to annex the West Bank have alarmed Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which view such actions as a “red line.” UAE’s assistant minister for political affairs, Lana Nusseibeh, warned that annexation would undermine the Abraham Accords and regional integration efforts. Saudi Arabia has also conveyed its concerns, with reports indicating that any annexation would have “major implications in all fields.” Despite US efforts to bring Saudi Arabia into the Abraham Accords, the kingdom has consistently maintained that normalization with Israel is contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian state. Last year, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, further complicating diplomatic relations.