Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in the central cityof Tel Aviv Saturday, protesting proposed legislation granting Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu immunity from prosecution on a series of corruption charges.
The protesters outside the city’s Museum of Art also calledfor protecting Israel’s democratic identity against government overreach.
The rally was a show of force by the new opposition partiesa month after Netanyahu was re-elected to his fourth successive term as primeminister.
Yair Lapid of Israel’s Blue and White party comparedNetanyahu’s efforts to consolidate his power to Turkey’s authoritarianPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
“We won’t let you be Erdogan. We won’t have a Turkishdictator. We won’t allow it,” Laid said, addressing Netanyahu.
Some demonstrators wore Ottoman-style fez hats, a referenceto Turkey, and waved Israeli flags and banners calling for “keeping Israelfree.”
The demonstrators say Netanyahu’s incoming coalition ispushing for legislation to shield him from prosecution and is looking torestrict the power of the Supreme Court.
Netanyahu is in the final stages of forming a new coalitiongovernment.
“We are not your subjects. We won’t let you destroy theSupreme Court. You are not above the law,” Lapid told the crowds.
In February, Israel’s attorney general decided to indictNetanyahu on corruption charges, pending a final hearing.