On Saturday, in continuation of months-long weekend protests demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Jerusalem.
Organizers reported 37,000 people took part in the protests, citing bracelets they handed out. Whereas, media reports state around 20,000 took part in the protests in Jerusalem.
The protest on Saturday falls in the 11th week of continuous protests against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who faces a corruption trial and allegations of mismanaging the coronavirus crisis.
Protesters rallied to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, carrying Israeli flags and black flags representing one of the protest movements.
Some of the placards of protesters read: “Enough with Division!” and “This is not politics, this is crime”.
Other parts of Israel, which include overpasses and outside Prime Minister Netanyahu’s private house in the upscale town of Caesaria, also saw smaller protests being held.
It is important to mention that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s governing coalition for now survived a fall out this week after a consensus with his rival and main coalition partner, “alternate prime minister”, Benny Gantz, to delay a budget vote until December.
If the two coalition parties had failed to agree to delay the budget vote, Israel would have undergone its fourth general elections in less than two years.
In May, following three inconclusive elections Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party had built a coalition. However, differences amid the two persisted.
As the unemployment rate in Israel stands above 20 per cent, business owners and workers hit hard by the coronavirus-triggered lockdowns, took part in the anti-Netanyahu demonstrations.
Moreover, last year Prime Minister Netanyahu was charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which have too added steam to the protests as many stated Netanyahu should not be serving as a prime minister when he is under trial for serious charges.