Wearing face masks, waving black flags and keeping their distance from one another, thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv, demonstrating against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under strict coronavirus restrictions on Sunday.
Netanyahu has been charged with fraud, breach of justice and accepting bribes. He denies the charges and says he is the victim of a hostile media and aggressive police and prosecutors.
He is also negotiating a power-sharing deal with his rival Benny Gantz to form a coalition government that would end a year of political deadlock after three inconclusive elections.
Demonstrations are allowed under Israel's coronavirus restrictions, as long as participants maintain distance from each other and wear face masks.
Under the banner of "Save the Democracy," protesters called on Gantz's Blue and White party not to join in a coalition led by a premier charged with corruption.
They accused Netanyahu of exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to evade his looming trial and cement his lengthy rule.
Demonstrators repeatedly chanted “democracy” and accused the prime minister of endangering the country's democratic institutions.
Black flags have become the symbol of their campaign in recent weeks.
Gantz has campaigned for clean government, but said that the COVID-19 crisis has forced him to go back on his election pledge.
“You don't fight corruption from within. If you're inside, you're part of it,” said Yair Lapid, Gantz's former political partner, who withdrew from the Blue and White alliance last month.
Israel has reported more than 13,000 coronavirus cases and 172 deaths. A partial lockdown has confined most Israelis to their homes, forced businesses to close and sent unemployment to about 26%. Some restrictions have been eased since Saturday.
