Hundreds of Israelis protest in Jerusalem against Netanyahu

Protesters, wearing masks of Israel鈥檚 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition partner Defense Minister Benny Gantz, take part in a demonstration in Tel Aviv鈥檚 Rabin Square to denounce Israel鈥檚 plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, on June 23, 2020. (AFP/Jack Guez)
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  • The demonstration was fueled by the detention of seven protesters Friday who held a smaller rally against Netanyahu鈥檚 continuation as premier despite being under indictment
  • The demonstrators held banners describing Netanyahu as 鈥渃rime minister鈥�

JERUSALEM: Hundreds of Israelis protested Saturday evening against Benjamin Netanyahu outside his Jerusalem residence as the Israeli prime minister faces corruption charges.
The demonstration was fueled by the detention of seven protesters Friday who held a smaller rally against Netanyahu鈥檚 continuation as premier despite being under indictment. The demonstrators held banners describing Netanyahu as 鈥渃rime minister.鈥�
Among the seven detainees was a former top Israeli air force general. On Saturday, Israeli police said the protest a day earlier was 鈥渋llegal鈥� because demonstrators blocked the roads.
Three of the protesters, including retired Brig. Gen. Amir Haskel, remained in detention for refusing the police鈥檚 release terms and insisting on participating in Saturday鈥檚 protest, Israeli media reported.
Last month, Netanyahu鈥檚 trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes opened in a Jerusalem court. It is scheduled to resume next month.
Netanyahu鈥檚 new government took office last month, ending more than a year of political stalemate.
Under a power sharing deal, Netanyahu was permitted to remain as prime minister, while his rival, Benny Gantz, was named defense minister and alternate prime minister.
The two men have agreed to switch posts after 18 months, though many analysts do not expect the government to last that long.