Israel experiences another night of anti-Netanyahu protests

The people of Israel have been demonstrating for months against the government, in particular against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over the mismanagement of the pandemic, in addition to corruption charges.

Protesters have again gathered, this time near the Israeli prime minister's properties in the cities of Tel Aviv, Caesarea and Jerusalem. These protests are taking place as the country goes into a third pandemic confinement.

In the capital, police used water cannons to disperse protesters as they attempted to approach Netanyahu's residence, resulting in two arrests and one policeman injured.

The Crime Minister's movement, one of the groups leading the protests, has accused Netanyahu of using the pandemic to delay his corruption trial and accused the prime minister of being beholden to his ultra-Orthodox coalition allies. "In the midst of a health and economic catastrophe, the accused - Netanyahu - is taking Israel hostage to postpone his trial while kowtowing to his 'natural partners' the ultra-Orthodox," the organisation said in a statement.

Hundreds of protesters also rallied outside Netanyahu's home in the coastal city of Caesarea and in Tel Aviv. In addition, a group of protesters marched from the Chord Bridge at the main entrance to Jerusalem to Paris Square, next to the prime minister's residence.

The protesters demanded a public enquiry into the government's handling of the pandemic, as well as the publication of transcripts of government meetings on the matter, Haaretz reports.

Israel, despite being the most vaccinated country in the world, has seen a recent increase in coronavirus cases. The country has given the first of two doses of the vaccine to nearly 50% of its population and Netanyahu reported that Israel has secured enough vaccine to inoculate the entire adult population by the end of March. Netanyahu has turned the vaccination programme into his best bargaining chip for a possible re-election bid on 23 March.

Protesters have been holding regular protests against Netanyahu for months, demanding his resignation over his upcoming trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Netanyahu is scheduled to appear in court on 8 February.

The prime minister denies wrongdoing and says the accusations are part of an effort by his political rivals, the media, the police and the prosecution to remove him from office.