‘Arab voters make no difference:’ Israeli coalition chairman triggers uproar with provocative remark

‘The Israeli ruling coalition chairman’s controversial statement that it would be “preferable” if Arabs “weren’t able to come” to polls since they “make no difference” anyway, was branded as “racist” and “antidemocratic” by opposition politicians and minorities.
The provocative remark was made by the Israeli parliament’s coalition chairman, Likud MK David Bitan, while attending a cultural event in Mevasseret Zion, suburb of Jerusalem on Sunday.
“What I’m saying is, if they [Arabs] weren’t able to come [to vote], that would be preferable, but it makes no difference; it’s not for me to tell them whether to come or not to come [to vote],” the Times of Israel quoted Bitan as saying.’
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