Recent comments by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding Saudi Arabia are shameful and troubling. Unfortunately, they reflect a mindset that risks undermining the very fabric of the state of Israel and Jewish relationships in the Middle East.

Such remarks represent a strain of divisive rhetoric that threatens to erode the reputation we have worked so hard to build.

Across Israel and the global Jewish community, there is an urgent concern about the rise of voices that often resort to demagoguery instead of wisdom.

These voices isolate us and weaken the standing of Israel and Jewish communities in the world. Those who indulge in such expressions may believe they are protecting their nation and communities. Unfortunately, they are jeopardizing the broader interests of Jewish communities worldwide and alienating potential allies of the state of Israel.

As president of the World Jewish Congress, representing diverse communities around the globe, I must assert unequivocally that Smotrich’s comments about Saudi Arabia do not reflect the sentiments of the majority of Jews. His comments are symptomatic of a larger issue in the current Israeli government — an inclination toward provocation over partnership.

Therefore, Israel........

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