Muhammad Al-Eraifi described them as “traitors and puppets of foreign powers,” Asharq Al-Awsat reported Thursday quoting an official source from the ministry.

The newspaper said the ministry disciplined the scholar after an investigation, which lasted for a week.

The nature of the ministry’s disciplinary punishment means writers and reporters are free to take legal action against Al-Eraifi.

It said Eraifi had launched a bitter attack on Saudi newspapers and its writers, columnists and media persons, accusing them of being agents of foreign parties and claiming they were only motivated in their writings by lust.

“Our writers are only concerned with issues as such allowing women to drive cars and also allowing them to go to the sea in bathing suits,” he had reportedly said.

Eraifi caused a stir when he announced in his weekly television program that he was ready to go to Al-Quds (Jerusalem) within a week to film his program there.

His statements were warmly welcomed by Israel and its foreign ministry said they were ready to extend all facilities to him.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has warned the local media against attacking scholars.