Majority winner Bejamin Netanyahu apologises to Arab Israelis over remarks

JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who won majority support Monday from newly-elected MPs to form Israel's next government, apologised for saying Arabs were voting in "droves" in comments that drew US condemnation.

The leader of the right-wing Likud party is expected to be tasked this week with forming a new coalition government.

"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 during a meeting with Arab Israelis broadcast on television.

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