Israelis have come out to protest in masses against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for over three months now.
The protesters demand Netanyahu’s resignation over the poor handling of COVID-19, use of lockdown measures to stop demonstrations against him being charged with bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, which many say is the reason for Netanyahu to not be serving as a prime minister in the first place.
On Saturday, according to Israel’s N12 News, thousands of people protested outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.
A day after the government tightened COVID-19 restrictions, protesters formalised demonstrations as long lines of cars drove along the main highway to Jerusalem in a protest convoy and groups gathered on bridges and junctions in other cities.
According to the Israel Democracy Institute survey published on Wednesday, only 27% of Israelis trust Netanyahu’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
“I’m here to stop the destruction of Israel, to stop democracy dying,” said Amit Tirosh, 42, a doctor from central Israel.
“Luckily parliament managed to stop the demonstrations’ halt at the last minute. Everyone should be here. We are at the edge of an abyss,” Amit said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, on the other hand, has rejected the allegations regarding the tightening of the lockdown being intended to prevent protests.
Netanyahu has several times referred to the protests as “anarchist” and “ludicrous”. “We need the lockdown in order to save lives,” Netanyahu said on Thursday.
Israel is recording daily highs of more than 7,000 cases of COVID-19 among the population of nine million.
As the country is in recession and the unemployment rate in Israel stands above 20 per cent, business owners and workers hit hard by the COIVD-19-triggered lockdowns, took part in the anti-Netanyahu demonstrations.