Israeli police arrested 28 demonstrators on Saturday night as anger over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response to the coronavirus pandemic saw thousands take to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Self-employed people demonstrated in Tel Aviv’s Charles Clore Park, before marching to Habima Square, and the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem. A water cannon was used to disperse the crowds.
The latest protests reflect mounting criticism of the Israeli government’s reaction to the economic fallout of the pandemic. Israel has experienced a sharp rise in unemployment and a second lockdown due to a spike in cases has further harmed the economy.
On Saturday night, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron announced a forecasted economic contraction of more than six per cent, with state-mandated closures of many businesses on weekends costing the economy 1.8 billion shekels (£417 million) each time.
