Thousands of Israelis take to the streets demanding Netanyahu’s resignation
- Protesters call for ouster amid allegations of corruption and failures in coronavirus handling
- Israel won praise for its initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak, but the government has come under criticism amid a resurgence in cases
Thousands protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu across Israel on Saturday night, demanding he resign over alleged corruption and a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
The protests took place at scores of intersections and bridges, where people held banners accusing Netanyahu of “failure” and calling for his resignation, as well as outside his private residence in the northern town Caesarea.
The main event took place outside the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem, where organisers said thousands demanded Netanyahu step down.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds protested against rising unemployment and the government’s alleged failure to support self-employed people who have lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic, media reports said.
Wearing face masks to forestall coronavirus transmission, protesters carried signs accusing Netanyahu, whose corruption trial is ongoing at the Jerusalem district court, of corruption and failing to resolve the coronavirus crisis and the related economic malaise.