Thousands gather in Israel for anti-Netanyahu rallies

At the main demonstration in Jerusalem, protesters marched to Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence

Police move protesters blocking a road outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem. EPA

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Saturday in Jerusalem in a continuation of summer-long weekend rallies to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a corruption trial and accusations of mishandling the coronavirus crisis.

Smaller protests were held across Israel, including on overpasses and outside Mr Netanyahu's private house in the town of Caesaria.

At the main rally in Jerusalem, protesters gathered at the entrance of the city and marched to Mr Netanyahu's official residence, holding Israeli flags and black flags symbolising one of the protest movements.

Some demonstrators held signs with messages such as "enough with division" and "this is not politics, this is crime".

Mr Netanyahu's governing coalition temporarily survived collapse this week after an agreement with alternate prime minister Benny Gantz to delay a budget vote until December.

If the coalition partners failed to agree on delaying the budget's approval, the government would have collapsed and Israel would have gone to its fourth general election in less than two years.

Mr Netanyahu of the Likud party and Mr Gantz's Blue and White party formed the coalition in May after three inconclusive elections, but differences between the men remain.

The coronavirus crisis is fuelling the protest movement. After controlling the virus in the spring, Israel reopened its economy too quickly in May, leading to a sharp increase in the number of cases.

More than 113,000 infections have been confirmed in Israel since the start of the outbreak and the death toll is approaching 1,000.

Business owners, day-to-day workers and smaller, vulnerable entrepreneurs who were hard hit by pandemic-triggered closures take part in the demonstrations.

The unemployment rate is hovering at about 20 per cent.

Mr Netanyahu's three corruption cases also added momentum to the protests. Last year, he was charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Many protesters say Mr Netanyahu should not serve as a prime minister when he is on trial.

In January, his trial will move to a witness phase with three sessions a week.