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End of lockdown brings avalanche of demonstrations to Israel

People from across Israeli society have been demonstrating against the government, demanding both looser and tighter restrictions and increased aid
Israelis protest in front of a placard with the photo of the High Court judges outside the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, against Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is charged with corruption, serving as prime minister of Israel's new unity government amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Jerusalem May 3, 2020 REUTERS/ Ronen Zvulun - RC2VGG9KUA09

Hundreds of people demonstrated on May 3 outside the High Court in Jerusalem, calling on the justices to block indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from leading the next government. Facing them were hundreds of Netanyahu’s supporters, claiming that their leader is being persecuted. Demonstrations continued today as the court continued to consider the petitions submitted against Netanyahu assembling the next government and against the unity government agreement signed between the Likud and Blue and White parties. With the High Court deliberations broadcast live, demonstrators followed the hearings on huge screens outside the court.

Even though the country has just begun easing restrictions over the novel coronavirus pandemic, demonstrations are back. Israelis were ordered to stay home on April 29 for Independence Day, but once the lockdown released, people went back to the streets for all sorts of reasons. In some cases, opposing demonstrations mixed with one another as people from all walks of life expressed anger and despair.

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