Saturday, 24 October 2020 (YJC)_ Thousands protest at intersections, overpasses, calling for PM’s resignation.
Thousands of Israelis were gathering Saturday evening in intersections and overpasses throughout the country for the latest mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
Saturday’s events saw the 18th weekend of demonstrations calling on Netanyahu to resign over his corruption trial and handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Large rallies were expected outside Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem, in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square and near Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea. Organizers said they expected protests in over a thousand locations across Israel.
Several marches were also planned through the capital.
Protests against Netanyahu have been taking place for many months. They were originally limited mostly to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, but in recent weeks — after the government temporarily banned travel and mass protests as part of a coronavirus lockdown — activists throughout the country have begun holding smaller rallies in hundreds of locations throughout the country.
The protest ban has since been lifted, but the dispersed demonstrations have continued. Protest organizers have urged all attendees to wear masks and maintain social distance, in line with coronavirus health regulations.
As demonstrations against Netanyahu have spread out, incidents of violence against activists have multiplied, including beatings and multiple attacks using pepper-spray.
Police have said they make every effort to protect the protesters and to keep the peace, and have deployed large forces around the country to do so.
Netanyahu is on trial in three criminal cases for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu has denied the allegations and attacked the police, the justice system, and other officials for what he and his allies term a “witch hunt.”
Source: Times Israel
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