Israeli Police Use Water Cannon to Disperse Anti-PM Crowd

A protester wears a shirt that reads "go", waves a flag while others gather under a bridge on their way to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
A protester wears a shirt that reads "go", waves a flag while others gather under a bridge on their way to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
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Israeli Police Use Water Cannon to Disperse Anti-PM Crowd

A protester wears a shirt that reads "go", waves a flag while others gather under a bridge on their way to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
A protester wears a shirt that reads "go", waves a flag while others gather under a bridge on their way to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem, Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

Israeli police sprayed a crowd of protesters with a water cannon Saturday night as they tried to disperse demonstrators calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation over corruption charges.

Temperatures were about 10 degrees Celsius (50 Fahrenheit) on a raw winter evening when the crowd was sprayed.

The protesters have been gathering every week near Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem for over seven months, but the use of water cannons is rare.

In a statement, police said hundreds of protesters took part in the demonstration, The Associated Press reported.

They accused some protesters of unruly behavior, including throwing objects and trying to break through a police barricade. It said one officer was lightly hurt, and several protesters were arrested.

The protesters say Netanyahu cannot serve as prime minister when he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases.

They also accuse him of mismanaging the coronavirus crisis, with unemployment in double digits after a series of nationwide lockdowns.

The country is in the midst of its third lockdown, despite one of the world's most successful vaccination campaigns.

Israel is preparing to hold new elections March 23.



Netanyahu Says Iran’s Government Fears Its People More than Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 13, 2024. (Reuters)
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Netanyahu Says Iran’s Government Fears Its People More than Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 13, 2024. (Reuters)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, July 13, 2024. (Reuters)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday in a direct message to Iranians that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's government feared the people of Iran more than Israel.

"That’s why they spend so much time and money trying to crush your hopes and curb your dreams," he said in a video message. "Well, I say to you this: Don’t let your dreams die. I hear the whispers: Women, Life, Freedom. Zan, Zendegi, Azadi.

"Don't lose hope. And know that Israel and others in the free world stand with you," Netanyahu said.