Iran Press/ Middle East: The protesters have been gathering outside on Saturday Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence for months, slamming him for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and saying he cannot lead Israel while under indictment for fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in three separate corruption cases.
Protesters held signs urging Netanyahu to Go, and declaring We won't stop protesting until you get out of our lives. While turnout was lower than previous demonstrations amid colder weather, the protesters have a new impetus because Israel appears headed toward its fourth election in two years in March, in which Netanyahu faces new challenges from defectors from his conservative Likud Party.
The election will likely be another referendum on Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister and also one of its most polarizing. It will come just after Netanyahu's trial enters its evidentiary stage, which will likely lodge the corruption charges against him firmly in the public discourse during what is expected to be a bitter, divisive campaign.
Saturday's protest came a day before Israel heads into its third national coronavirus lockdown, with much of the economy again shutting down amid surging infection numbers. Critics say Netanyahu and his so-called emergency government set up in the spring specifically to deal with the virus bungled their response, bringing the country to another costly lockdown.
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