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Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon
"It would also be in the interests of a Palestinian state because the Arabs of Israel can contribute, with their experience, to its social and economic development," he said.
Ayalon, however, stressed that Israel was not trying "to get rid of them."
Such remarks show that Ayalon does "not understand anything about human rights and democracy," MP Ahmad Tibi told reporters. Arab Israelis are "not pawns" to be moved around at will.
Mohammed Barakeh, another Arab Israeli MP, likened the statement to those of far-right parties in Europe.
But Israel's minister for minorities, Avishai Braverman, also joined in the criticism of Ayalon, saying his words "do not reflect in any way the position of the government."
Israel's Arab community numbers 1.3 million and accounts for 20 percent of the mainly Jewish state's population. It includes the descendants of the 160,000 Palestinians who remained in Israel after the 1948 Middle East war.
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Ayalon, however, stressed that Israel was not trying "to get rid of them."
Such remarks show that Ayalon does "not understand anything about human rights and democracy," MP Ahmad Tibi told reporters. Arab Israelis are "not pawns" to be moved around at will.
Mohammed Barakeh, another Arab Israeli MP, likened the statement to those of far-right parties in Europe.
But Israel's minister for minorities, Avishai Braverman, also joined in the criticism of Ayalon, saying his words "do not reflect in any way the position of the government."
Israel's Arab community numbers 1.3 million and accounts for 20 percent of the mainly Jewish state's population. It includes the descendants of the 160,000 Palestinians who remained in Israel after the 1948 Middle East war.
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