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            [short_description] => Israelis are protesting against their Prime Minister
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Why in news?

Since July, Israelis are protesting against their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Why are protests happening?


	
Israelis have been protesting against the government’s mishandling of the Covid-19 outbreak and its impact on the country’s economy. 
	
These protests come at a time when Netanyahu has been facing charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals.
	
The protestors are ramping up calls for the prime minister’s ouster. 
	
The prime minister’s corruption trial started this month and hearings in the case will begin in January 2021.


How hard is the Israel’s economy hit?


	
Protests started essentially because of Covid-19’s economic impact that has hit small business owners and the self-employed the hardest. 
	
The self-employed have complained that government schemes that had been promised to alleviate economic hardship have not reached them.
	
Netanyahu had met protesting groups and had promised to hasten payments through these schemes. 
	
Some protestors have also said that aid measures have not been enough despite the government’s revisions.
	
Since Israel implemented strict lockdown measures in March, livelihoods of many people have been severely hit. 
	
However, these measures did initially help control a wider outbreak of infections.
	
Although the government began lifting lockdown restrictions in May, the economic impact has persisted for many in the country. 
	
Unemployment has risen to 21% since the lockdown measures were first implemented in Israel.


What was Netanyahu’s response to protests?


	
Benjamin Netanyahu publicly warned the protestors to not descend into “anarchy, violence” and attacks against the police. 



	
He also urged the protestors to maintain health ministry guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 
	
He accused protestors of defacing and disrespecting state symbols, after a protestor was standing on top of a menorah.


What was the Netanyahu family’s response to protests?


	
The Netanyahu family has been publicly criticising these protestors.
	
The prime minister’s son Yair Netanyahu took the front seat in his battle against his father’s critics, both political and ordinary Israelis.
	
However, he is not holding any official position in the government. 
	
For weeks, Yair Netanyahu has been sharing social media posts that are anti-protests and has also used Twitter to attack his father’s critics. 
	
He claimed that the journalists were inciting violence against his family.


How is the Netanyahu family protected?


	
Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service had ramped up its protection of the prime minister and his family following growing protests. 
	
Due to the size and frequency of the demonstrations, the agency’s operations have been altered to reflect the developing situation.
	
Israeli police had ramped up its presence at these anti-Netanyahu protests because of the growing numbers of demonstrators. 
	
There have also been reports of police violence against protestors.
	
Israel’s opposition parties have expressed criticism at the aggression meted out against protestors by police forces. 


 

Source: The Indian Express

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