Protest in Israel against Netanyahu amid third coronavirus lockdown

Thousands of Israelis renewed weekly demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for the long-serving leader to resign over corruption charges against him and his alleged mishandling of the coronavirus crisis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received his second dose of COVID vaccine on Saturday.While Netanyahu was getting the vaccine, hundreds of protesters gathered in Jerusalem to demand his resignation and criticised the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Protesters on Saturday held signs reading ''Go,''and ''Bibi, let my people go,''referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

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The protest in a Jerusalem square near Netanyahu's official residence comes as Israel is in the midst of its third national lockdown, which was recently tightened to shutter schools, and as the country presses forward with a world-leading vaccination drive.

Netanyahu's trial was set to resume this week but was postponed indefinitely amid the tighter restrictions.

Netanyahu has been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust connected to three long-running investigations. He has denied any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a ''witch hunt''by hostile media, law enforcement and judicial officials.

Protesters argue that Netanyahu cannot properly lead the country while under indictment.

Israel had last month imposed its third national lockdown since the start of the pandemic, but decided not to close schools and to allow a wide range of businesses to remain open.

But the daily caseload has remained high,often around 8,000 in the country of about nine million people,prompting Netanyahu to push for a more comprehensive closure, notably shuttering schools and all non-essential businesses.

The country has given the first of two vaccine doses to nearly 20 per cent of its population, and Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel has secured enough vaccines to inoculate the whole adult population by the end of March.

Netanyahu has placed the vaccination drive at the centre of his campaign for reelection that same month. On March 23, Israel will hold its fourth nationwide vote in less than two years. In the meantime, he has called on Israelis to make ''one last big effort''to halt transmission by adhering to the tightened restrictions.

Israel, with a population of 9 million, has reported 484,083 coronavirus cases and 3,633 deaths. It has imposed two national lockdowns and may soon order curbs on high-contagion areas