Israeli coalition chief: I prefer if Arab citizens didn't vote

The head of the Israeli governing coalition sparked concern Saturday over comments that he would prefer if Arab citizens of the country did not participate in elections as many criticized him for making racist remarks.

"I would prefer if the Arabs would not go in droves to the ballot boxes and that they would not go at all to the ballot boxes," said David Biton, a member of Knesset (parliament) from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, according to Haaretz daily.

He was responding to a question about Netanyahu's remarks last year on election day, warning Jewish voters than Arabs were turning out "in droves" to cast their ballots.

The prime minister was trying to encourage Jews to head to polling stations and chose his nationalist Likud party. He has since offered regrets over the statement which was posted on his Facebook page.

Biton's statement was criticized on social media, including by former prime minister Ehud Barak, who warned about "the direction in which we are heading." Some Twitter users accused the coalition chief of racism.

The Arab minority - who often refer to themselves as Palestinian citizens of Israel - make up just under 20 per cent of the population of the Jewish State and frequently complain of systemic discrimination.

Netanyahu's comments on election day drew sharp rebukes from liberal Jews in the United States as well as from the White House, with President Barack Obama warning that without equal rights, democracy in Israel would be eroded.