The Reason For The Widespread Demonstrations Demands That Netanyahu Resign As Prime Minister Of Israel

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu (Instagram/@b.netanyahu)

JAKARTA - The wave of demonstrations demanding the resignation of Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu is getting wider. The streets of a number of cities are filled with thousands of people voicing economic difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The mass unrest was exacerbated by allegations of corruption surrounding the president. Netanyahu, Sunday, August 2 responded by calling the mass action an insult to democracy.

Netanyahu also accused the action of being supported by groups who wanted to impeach him. One of the ways is through mass media mobilization. All of these statements were conveyed by Netanyahu at a weekly meeting with all cabinet ranks.

"These demonstrations were triggered by the mobilization of the media, which I can't remember ... They didn't even report the demonstrations - because they violated the COVID-19 protocol - because they participated in it. They added fuel," Netanyahu said, quoted by Reuters on Monday, August 3.

Unlike Netanyahu, Netanyahu's coalition partner who is also Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz defended the protesters. "The right to protest is the lifeblood of democracy."

Even support for the protests was shown by the left-wing opposition party, Meretz. In a statement, they revealed that Netanyahu was in the ranks of a dark regime for wanting to limit democracy.

Meanwhile, the main demonstration took place in front of Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem. The demonstrators carried slogans and posters reading, "Netanyahu Failed" and "Netanyahu Resigns."

Regarding the alleged corruption, Netanyahu is accused of illegally injecting large funds of Israel's best-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot to write positive news for himself. In addition, Netanyahu is also said to have received cigars, champagne and jewelry worth 700,000 shekels or nearly Rp3 billion from a number of people in return for Netanyahu's help.