JERUSALEM, May 9 (Xinhua) -- More than half Israelis think that the government should encourage its Arab citizens to leave Israel,a survey published on Tuesday said.

    The annual survey titled "the Democracy Index 2006" was released by the Israel Democracy Institute, which showed that 62 percent of Israelis support government-backed Arab emigration. According to the survey, only 14 percent of respondents said ties between Arabs and Jews are good, while 29 percent said a Jewish majority is required for decisions of crucial national significance.

    Israeli Arab Knesset (parliament) members slam the result as a show of "Racism," local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. United Arab List-Ta'al Chairman Ibrahim Sarsur was quoted as saying that "it is unfortunate and shocking that there is still such a large percentage among the Jewish people who do not believe in full partnership between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority."

    Meanwhile, members of ruling party Kadima also expressed their concern over the survey's findings.

    Kadima Knesset member Menahem Ben-Sasson, a history professor, said that "the attitude toward minorities is worrying and requires turning the attention and resources to understanding their life, culture and history as a step for developing mutual relations based on respect."

    The survey was in preparation for a conference to be held on Wednesday sponsored by Israeli President Moshe Katsav. Currently, about 1.3 million Arabs, accounting for a fifth of the overall Israeli population, live in the Jewish state. Enditem