Thousands rally in support of embattled Netanyahu
Turnout could boost public opinion for leader facing corruption charges
Thousands of people rallied in support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday in what was intended to be a show of strength for the Israeli leader as he battles a corruption indictment and a possible rebellion within his own party.
While the demonstration has no impact on the legal charges, a strong turnout could give Netanyahu a boost in terms of public opinion and against potential rivals in his Likud Party as the country appears to be heading toward new elections. Netanyahu has claimed that he is the victim of an attempted “coup” by overzealous police investigators and prosecutors.
As the protest got underway in central Tel Aviv, a crowd of roughly 5,000 people rallied for Netanyahu, hoisting Israeli flags and posters that accused prosecutors of “blackmail” and “threats.” In a possible sign of trouble for Netanyahu, most of Likud’s senior officials skipped the event.
Netanyahu ally Micky Zohar, one of the few Likud officials to attend, took to the stage to criticize the country’s legal system.
He said the goal of the demonstration was not to “attack” the legal system, drawing boos from the crowd. “We can’t replace the system, but we can change it,” he said.
Culture Minister Miri Regev, another Netanyahu backer, said the protest aimed to “convey a message that the rule of law isn’t above the law.”
With Israel facing a potential third election in less than a year, Netanyahu is seeking to put down any potential rebellion in Likud by rallying his hard-line base of nationalist and religious voters.
Despite calls for his resignation, Netanyahu seems determined to cling to power and fight the charges from the prime minister’s office.
Only one top official, Gideon Saar, is openly challenging the prime minister, but the silence of others is raising speculation that Netanyahu’s support could be cracking.
The prime minister has been lashing out at police and prosecutors since Israel’s attorney general last Thursday indicted Netanyahu on fraud, breach of trust and bribery charges.
His backers have already staged small demonstrations supporting him, but Tuesday night’s event appeared to be aimed at stifling dissent in the party’s ranks.
Netanyahu himself wasn’t expected to attend the event, which included representatives of fringe right-wing groups.