Thousands of Israelis protest in Jerusalem, despite lockdown

27/9/2020 6:11

                Thousands of Israelis gathered outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to demand his resignation, pressing ahead with weeks of protests against the embattled Israeli leader despite a strict new lockdown order.
        
        With Israel facing one of the world's worst coronavirus outbreaks, the tough lockdown rules went into effect Friday, closing many businesses, banning large gatherings and ordering people to stay close to home.
        
        But Israel's parliament, was unable to agree on proposed legislation that would ban the right to protest.
        
        Netanyahu has pushed hard for a ban on the demonstrations, claiming they pose a threat to public safety, and he has threatened to declare a state of emergency to halt the unrest.
        
        But his opponents accuse him of using the health crisis as a pretext to put a halt to weeks of demonstrations against him.
        
        For over three months, thousands of people have thronged the streets of central Jerusalem near Netanyahu's residence, calling on him to step down.