JERUSALEM (AP) – Thousands of Israelis renewed weekly protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, urging the long-serving leader to resign over corruption allegations against him and his alleged mismanagement of the coronavirus crisis.
Protesters held signs reading “Go” and “Bibi, let my people go,” referring to Netanyahu.
The protest in a square in Jerusalem near Netanyahu’s official residence comes as Israel is the third national exclusion, recently closed to shutter schools, and as the country moves forward with a world-leading vaccination campaign. Netanyahu’s trial is set to resume this week, but has been postponed indefinitely amid stricter restrictions.
Netanyahu has been charged with charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust related to three lengthy investigations. He denied any wrongdoing and said he was the victim of a ‘witch hunt’ by hostile media, law enforcement and judicial officials. Protesters argue that Netanyahu cannot lead the country properly while under indictment.
Israel has seen a recent increase in cases, despite the release of one of the world’s fastest vaccination campaigns. The country gave the first of two vaccine doses to nearly 20% of its population, and Netanyahu said on Thursday that by the end of March, Israel had secured enough vaccines to vaccinate the entire adult population.
Netanyahu placed the vaccination in the middle of his re-election campaign in the same month. On March 23, Israel will hold its fourth nationwide vote in less than two years. Meanwhile, he called on Israelites to make one last major effort to stop the transfer by complying with the tightened restrictions.