Several thousand demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem on August 22 to demand the departure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He is accused of corruption, embezzlement and breach of trust in a series of cases.
“Minister of Crime”, “You’re Fired”, “Free Israel”: Thousands of protesters demanding the departure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered again on August 22 in front of his official residence in Jerusalem.
To the rhythm of the percussions, and under the surveillance of the police, thousands of Israelis – 10,000 according to local media – gathered to demand the departure of the Israeli head of state, accusing him in particular of corruption or having mismanaged the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Benny Gantz criticized for deal with Benjamin Netanyahu
“I hope that things will change and that he will be forced to give his seat to someone else. He is not an honest prime minister. He is accused in a trial and thinks more about saving his interests than defending those of the country, “Ora, a protester from the north of the country who traveled three hours to participate in the rally, told AFP. Balfour Street, in front of Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
For Efrat, another demonstrator broken up with these post-Shabbat meetings, the message is also addressed to Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist formation Bleu Blanc, who came in second place in the March elections, and who agreed on a sharing of power with the Israeli leader despite his troubles with the law.
“A lot of people here voted for Benny Gantz. And we want him to know he made a mistake allying himself with [Benjamin] Netanyahu, ”she said in particular.
Several anti-Netanyahu demonstrators wore on the evening of August 22 a sanitary mask crossed out with the inscription in English “crime minister“(Minister of crime), others had written on signs” you are fired “,” free Israel “,” Belarus, Lebanon, Israel, united we are, Revolution! “. Some had juxtaposed the name of the Prime Minister to the photo of the philosopher Machiavelli, the author of the Prince.
Israeli police had reported seven arrests during protests in Jerusalem. According to recent polls, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud remains in first place in voting intentions, while Benny Gantz’s Bleu Blanc formation retreats, and center-left Yesh Atid and radical-right Yamina formations advance.
Netanyahu charged with corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases
Since the start of the summer, and despite the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people have gathered after Shabbat (Saturday evening) across the country to call for the replacement of Prime Minister Netanyahu, in power continuously since 2009.
Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Likud (national-liberal right), won the last elections in March and, in the process, formed a coalition government with his rival, centrist Benny Gantz, in order to pull the country out of the longest political crisis in its history.
Indicted for corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases, Benjamin Netanyahu is at the heart of a trial whose witness hearings will begin in January 2021. According to Israeli law, the prime minister is not obliged to resign if he is charged but only if convicted of a crime after having exhausted all appeal procedures. Which could take a while.
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