Thousands demonstrated near prime minister's residence - Benet calls to treat Netanyahu with respect

About 1,500 people came to demonstrated tonight (Saturday) near the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem, on the evening of the last Saturday before the expected inauguration of the new government. The demonstrators came to the weekly demonstration in Paris Square as part of a protest against Netanyahu. The designated prime minister, Naftali Bennett, said in a press release: "This is not the time for demonstrations and provocations. I call for Netanyahu and his family to be treated with respect."
In another demonstration held by the organization of black flags at the Nahariya junction, a man threatened demonstrators with an Airsoft pistol. He arrived at the scene in a vehicle and waved at the protesters with his weapon. At the end of the searches, the police detained the driver and a passenger who was with him, residents of the village of Jadeida-Makr in their 20s, for questioning. The Airsoft pistol is in the vehicle.
Dozens of "black flags" protesters have already begun visiting bridges across the country. The movement said that "the State of Israel is one step ahead of a new direction for which we have been fighting for over a year. The new government would not have been possible without the hundreds of thousands who went out and fought every week for Israeli democracy. This is a time for unity.
Meanwhile, two residents of the village of Jadeida-Makr, in their 20s, were arrested on Saturday evening on suspicion of threatening demonstrators with a gun at the Nahariya junction. Depending on the development of the investigation, the police will decide whether to request an extension of detention tomorrow in the Magistrate's Court in the Krayot.
Tomorrow at 16:00, the time when the swearing-in of the new government is expected to take place, another demonstration of support will take place outside the Knesset, organized by "activists" and other protest organizations. The organizers also said that they later plan to hold "mass celebrations" in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv.
The demonstrators protested against Netanyahu's continued tenure while being charged with crimes, claiming, among other things, that he could not separate his personal and legal good from his political decisions. The prime minister is charged with three counts.
In the 1000 case (the benefit benefits case), Netanyahu is accused of receiving benefits worth about NIS 700,000 from businessmen Arnon Milchen and James Packer, while he served as prime minister. The main gifts were cigars, champagne packages and jewelry.
In addition, it was alleged that Netanyahu acted in Milchen's favor on three issues, in which the businessman sought his intervention: he approached US Secretary of State John Kerry to extend the businessman's visa, he approached Finance Minister Yair Lapid to extend the exemption. A tax for returning residents, and he worked to promote a merger of "Keshet" and "Reshet" - ostensibly at Milchen's request. According to the lawsuit, these acts damaged the image of the public service and the public's trust in it. In this case, Netanyahu is accused of fraud and breach of trust.
The 2000 case (the Netanyahu-Mozes affair) deals with talks between Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Noni Mozes. The person who proposed the deal is Mozes, so he is accused of bribing. In this case, Netanyahu is accused of fraud and breach of trust.
Case 4000 (Bezeq-Walla affair) The most serious case for the prime minister deals with regulatory benefits worth hundreds of millions of shekels, which Netanyahu allegedly granted to Elowitz. In return, according to the indictment, Elovich acted to skew the coverage on the Walla! NEWS, which was under his control. In this case, Netanyahu is accused of bribery.

photo: Roni Knafo