Netanyahu apologises publicly for remarks on Arabs

The comments were considered highly offensive.

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu on March 3. Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg

JERUSALEM // Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu apologised publicly on Monday for saying Palestinians were voting in “droves” in election day comments that drew condemnation, including from the United States.

“I know that my statements last week offended some Israeli citizens and members of the Arab Israeli community. That was never my intention. I apologise for that,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu made a last-minute call to his supporters to vote last Tuesday in an attempt to counter a high turnout among Palestinians.

“The rule of the right wing is in danger. Arab voters posted are going to the polls in droves!” he said in a video on Facebook.

* Agence France-Presse