Dozens of Israeli protesters have been arrested after shackling and briefly blocking the entrance to Parliament, as protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government grow louder.
The meeting in West Jerusalem on Wednesday was called to protest an upcoming vote to give the government radical authority to bypass the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in enacting measures to combat the rapid spread of the new coronavirus. At least 34 protesters were arrested.
The morning came after a night of intense street protests, in the latest manifestation of discontent with Netanyahu and his government over the handling of the pandemic. Public anger has been compounded by corruption allegations against the longtime prime minister, who was tried in May for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, charges he denies.
Demonstrations outside the prime minister’s official residence have become a weekly occurrence, with police taking increasingly severe measures against protesters. Last month, they arrested a retired Israeli air force general, triggering an uproar.
Since then, the protests have attracted a younger crowd and have become more challenging. Last week, thousands of Israelis have participated in some of the largest anti-government demonstrations in almost 10 years.
Netanyahu has come under increasing criticism for taking office while on trial for corruption, pressing for apparently undemocratic measures under the guise of fighting the virus and mismanaging an deepening economic crisis.
The government has also been accused of issuing contradictory guidelines that have only further fueled the anger of ordinary citizens.
On Tuesday night, a large coalition of protest groups rallied to march through the streets of Jerusalem from Netanyahu’s residence to the Knesset. They played drums, beat pots and blew trumpets while calling on the Prime Minister to resign.
“It is humiliating and insulting. You pay social security and taxes for thirty years and then you have to beg (the authorities) to make ends meet. I am here to protest, for this evil government to resign,” said Doron of 54 years. One-year-old protester was quoted by Reuters news agency.
He said he has been on vacation without pay for three months.
Public anger has also been increased by corruption allegations against Netanyahu. [Amir Levy/Getty Images]
Israel in May lifted a partial shutdown that had flattened the infection curve. But a second wave of COVID-19 cases and the resulting restrictions have caused Netanyahu’s approval ratings to drop below 30 percent and unemployment to shoot up to 21 percent.
“The concern now is that it is too late in terms of testing to reach the magnitude of the second wave,” said Harry Fawcett of Al Jazeera, reporting from Tel Aviv.
“Israel’s missed opportunity in testing and tracing contacts is now seen as a broader political failure to deal with the pandemic.”
A financial aid plan announced by Netanyahu last week, which would see hundreds of dollars delivered to all Israeli households, was widely condemned by economists and has hit a snag in Parliament.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
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