https://arab.news/we2tf
RIYADH: The Saudi foreign ministry said Tuesday that it rejected statements made by the Israeli finance minister, who denied the existence of the Palestinian people, saying the remarks contributed to spreading hatred and violence and undermine peace.
鈥淭he Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom鈥檚 condemnation and denunciation of the offensive and racist remarks made by an official at the Israeli occupation government against the State of Palestine and its brotherly people,鈥� read the ministry鈥檚 statement on Twitter.
鈥淭he Kingdom confirms its rejection of the statements made by the Israeli official, which are contrary to the truth.鈥�
鈥淭he Kingdom supports efforts to resolve the Palestinian issue in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative,鈥� it added.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who heads a religious-nationalist party in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right coalition, said on Sunday there was 鈥渘o such thing as a Palestinian people,鈥� or Palestinian history or culture.