Tens of thousands protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Tens of thousands of Israelis calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign rallied across the country on Saturday night, saying he is unfit to govern as they are tried on corruption charges and accused of mishandling the coronavirus crisis. in the nation.

Protesters gathered in hundreds of venues across the country due to a nationwide lockdown that prevented them from protesting at the usual venue outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem. Current lockdown regulations allow people to only gather within one kilometer of their home.

The largest gathering in Habima Square in central Tel Aviv drew thousands of protesters, who blew horns and beat drums and tambourines. The protesters waved pink and black flags symbolizing various grassroots protest movements. Some of the banners, using Netanyahu’s nickname, read: “Bibi, you are destroying my future.” Others read “Let’s go!”

Police reported clashes with protesters in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

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Netanyahu is on trial for fraud, breach of trust and taking bribes for his role in a series of scandals, and protesters have held weekly meetings for the past four months to demand his resignation.

Netanyahu denies the charges and accuses the protesters of being “leftists” and “anarchists.”

The marches have also been fueled by the government’s response to the pandemic. After appearing to contain the outbreak last spring through a strict lockdown, it quickly reopened the economy and the infection rate skyrocketed.

The country of 9 million people has one of the highest infection rates in the developed world, with the death toll approaching 2000.

With infections at record levels, Israel imposed another lockdown last month, further hurting the business owners and entrepreneurs who have been a key component of the protests.

The economy has been devastated by the closures and many of the protesters are young Israelis who have lost their jobs.

Netanyahu’s trial, the pandemic and the collapsing economy add to pressure on his emergency government, which was formed in May in association with rival Benny Gantz.

The government was meant to address the coronavirus crisis and the parties formed it after three inconclusive elections in less than a year. Instead, it has been hampered by nonstop infighting.

Last week, the tourism minister for Gantz’s Blue and White party government resigned because he was unable to contain the outbreak.

Violations of the lockdown by senior government officials, including a Netanyahu Likud cabinet minister and Netanyahu’s wife Sara, last week have further damaged public confidence in the country’s decision-makers.