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Benjamin Netanyahu

Jerusalem – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologised to Israel’s Arab citizens on Monday for remarks he made during last week’s parliament election that offended members of the community.

The move appeared to be an attempt to heal rifts and mute criticism at home and in the United States. Netanyahu drew accusations of racism in Israel, especially from its Arab minority, and a White House rebuke when, just a few hours before polling stations were to close across the country, he warned that Arab citizens were voting “in droves”.

But President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Denis McDonough, rejected Netanyahu’s attempt to distance himself from his comments, telling an Israel advocacy group Monday that the US can’t just overlook what Netanyahu said on the eve of his re-election.

Netanyahu, whose Likud Party won re-election in the vote, met with members of the Arab community at the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem on Monday and apologised. He said he knows his “comments last week offended some Israeli citizens and offended members of the Israeli-Arab community.”

“This was never my intent. I apologise for this,” Netanyahu said. “I view myself as the prime minister of each and every citizen of Israel, without any prejudice based on religion, ethnicity or gender. I view all Israeli citizens as partners in the building of a prosperous and safe state of Israel, for all Israelis,” he also said.

A recently established alliance of four small, mostly Arab parties called the Joint List made unprecedented gains in the March 17 election, earning enough votes to make it the third-largest party in Israel’s parliament. Arab citizens make up 20 percent of Israel’s population. Equality is guaranteed in Israel’s laws but many Arabs have long complained of discrimination, mainly in the job and housing market.

Ayman Odeh, the head of the Joint List, told channel 2 TV that Netanyahu’s apology was not accepted. “This isn’t a real apology,” Odeh said. “He incited against citizens who were exercising their basic right to vote for Knesset.”

Odeh also accused Netanyahu of “zigzagging” by saying one thing one day and a different another.

In the final days of the campaign, Netanyahu angered the US by taking a tough stance toward the Palestinians and by saying a Palestinian state will not be established on his watch in the current climate of regional chaos and violence. Resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in a two state solution is a key US foreign policy priority.

In his speech to J Street, an Israel advocacy group that is sharply critical of Netanyahu, McDonough warned Israel against annexing the West Bank, where Palestinians hope to establish their future state. He said Netanyahu’s prediction that a Palestinian state wouldn’t come about on his watch was “very troubling” and questioned Netanyahu’s broader commitment to the two-state solution the US and Israel have officially supported for years. “We can’t simply pretend that these comments were never made,” McDonough said.

Obama’s decision to dispatch his chief of staff to speak to J Street was seen as another sign that Obama intends to take a tougher tack toward Netanyahu.

Israelis and Palestinians are closely watching to see how US policy will change in practical terms after Netanyahu’s success in the elections. Obama has said the US must re-evaluate its approach to pursuing Mideast peace because of Netanyahu’s comments, and has entertained speculation the US will be less willing to come to Israel’s defence in the United Nations. The US has voted against UN resolutions supporting the establishment of a Palestinian state, insisting the matter should be negotiated directly with Israel. – AP