Israelis defy protest ban to call for Netanyahu’s resignation

Defying a new controversial law that limits demonstrations during lockdown, tens of thousands of Israelis have protested against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has refused to step down despite being on trial for graft and his mishandling of the coronavirus crisis.

The protests took place in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem al-Quds, Haifa and Pardes Hannah and Oranit on Saturday.

One of the groups organizing the demonstrations, the Black Flags movement, said its “conservative” data from its ground operatives indicated that more than 100,000 people rallied in the occupied territories.

The figure makes Saturday’s demonstrations collectively the largest yet held against Netanyahu over his serial corruption indictments and mismanagement of Israel’s COVID-19-ravaged economy.