Tel Aviv: Thousands of Israelis protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Saturday over his alleged corruption and the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
The crowd rallied outside Netanyahu’s residence, blowing whistles, waving signs and flags and calling for his resignation.
Smaller protests were held along bridges at major intersections in cities across Israel.
Israeli media estimated that about 10,000 people attended what has become a weekly demonstration in Jerusalem. Organisers said that as many as 25,000 people joined the protest.
The protests, now in their 12th week, built up over the summer as COVID-19 cases spiked.
With a population of nine million, Israel has reported almost 150,000 infections and more than 1,000 deaths.
The country is in a recession as a result of the pandemic and the unemployment rate is hovering above 20 percent.
A survey published in August by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 61 percent of Israelis did not trust Netanyahu to manage the coronavirus crisis.
