Thousands of Israelis gathered in various spots nationwide Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as anger mounts over corruption allegations and his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
So-called "Black Flag" demonstrations were held on over 250 bridges and intersections across the country on Saturday, where protesters called on the prime minister to step down.
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On a busy highway overpass north of Israel's commercial hub of Tel Aviv, demonstrators waved black flags and chanted slogans while cars honked their horns from the road below.
According to the Israel Police, some 12,000 protesters rallied outside the official Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on Saturday. Organizers pegged the number at 20,000.
Several hundred protesters gathered in Tel Aviv and, in a trend that has been gaining momentum, around 200 rallied outside Netanyahu's private home in in the affluent northern city of Caesarea.
Carrying signs reading, "Your time is up," "Crime Minister," and "You failed! Go Home!" among others, demonstrators in Jerusalem 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.
The protest movement has intensified in recent weeks, with critics accusing Netanyahu of being distracted by a corruption case against him. He denies wrongdoing.
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 son, Yair, this week caused a public uproar when he described the protesters as "aliens." Many protesters Saturday dressed up as visitors from outer space to mock the comments.
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.
"Netanyahu is fighting to get Israel's economy back to normal and to transfer funds and grants to Israeli citizens," Likud said in a statement posted to Netanyahu's Twitter page.
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.
While the demonstrations have largely been peaceful, there have been signs of violence in previous weeks. Some protesters have clashed with police, accusing them of using excessive force, while small gangs of Netanyahu supporters affiliated with a far-right group have assaulted demonstrators. But recent gatherings have taken place without incident.
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