Thousands demand resignation of Israeli PM

Thousands of Israelis gathered outside Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence late Saturday to demand the long-time prime minister's resignation on trial for corruption and criticised for mishandling the coronavirus pandemic.

The country faces a nationwide virus lockdown ahead of the Jewish New Year that starts next week, a time of widespread travel and large family gatherings.

Israel had earned praise last spring for its early handling of the virus crisis, moving quickly to seal the country's borders and appearing to bring an outbreak under control.

But Netanyahu has come under criticism for reopening the economy too quickly in May. Since then, new cases have spiked to record levels, the government has been blamed for mismanaging the resurgence and unemployment has soared to double-digit levels.

Weekly protests against Netanyahu over his corruption trial have expanded to include demonstrations against his handling of the health crisis and the resulting economic pain.

Protesters carried makeshift submarines a reference to a graft case related to a possible conflict of interest involving a $2 billion purchase of German submarines.

Last week Netanyahu announced overnight curfews on some 40 cities and towns hit hard by the coronavirus, but backed away from reported recommendations for full lockdowns after an uproar by politically powerful religious politicians.

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