Thousands protest against Netanyahu over economy, corruption allegations

Hundreds of Israelis protested outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in al-Quds on Saturday (August 15), over corruption allegations and his handling of the Coronavirus crisis, with lower turn-up this weekend as opposed to previous ones.

“Crime minister,” read most of the banners carried, as protesters waved Israeli flags and called on Netanyahu to resign over what they say is his failure to protect jobs and businesses affected by the pandemic.

According to Press TV, Netanyahu, who was sworn in for a fifth term in May after a closely fought election, has accused the protesters of trampling democracy and the Israeli media of encouraging dissent.

Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud Party on Saturday called the protests “left-wing riots” and accused Israel’s popular Channel 12 news of “doing everything it can to encourage the far-left demonstrations” of the premier’s opponents.

Israel in May lifted a partial lockdown that had flattened an infection curve. But a second surge of COVID-19 cases and ensuing restrictions have seen Netanyahu’s approval ratings plunge to under 30%.

Many restrictions have since been lifted to revive business activity, but unemployment hovers at 21.5% and the economy is expected to contract 6% in 2020.