Thousands of Israelis have demonstrated outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence, calling for his impeachment ahead of this week’s parliamentary election.
The weekly protests against Netanyahu have been going on for nine months. But they have lost strength in recent months, partly due to cold winter weather and after early elections were called in December. The Saturday night meeting in central Jerusalem was the largest in months.
The grassroots protest movement believes Netanyahu cannot serve as prime minister while on trial on multiple charges of corruption. Many also object to his approach to the coronavirus crisis.
Polls predict a tense race for Tuesday, with Netanyahu and his religious and nationalist allies struggling to secure a majority of seats in the 120-member Knesset or parliament.
If polls hold true, Israel could face weeks of horse trading and even the possibility of an unprecedented fifth consecutive election in just over two years.
Netanyahu is counting on his highly successful vaccination campaign to propel him to victory. About three-quarters of the country’s adult population has been vaccinated in less than three months, and the economy has reopened in recent weeks.
But more than 6,000 Israelis have died from Covid-19, the economy has been hit hard by repeated lockdowns, and unemployment remains double-digit.
Many of the protesters have lost their jobs or seen their businesses suffer as a result of repeated lockdowns.
“It’s in our hands,” a sign posted on a giant Israeli flag said. ‘We are saving the country. We fight corruption, we are the hope, ”said another banner.