Police remove protesters from Jerusalem square

Israeli police dragged anti-government protesters from a square in central Jerusalem early on Sunday (late Saturday GMT) after thousands of people demonstrated for the 11th consecutive weekend against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Many refused to obey police orders to leave the square and locked hands as they lay on the streets.

Dozens of police intervened to clear out the protesters.

No violent incidents were reported.

The protesters are demanding the embattled prime minister resign as he faces a corruption trial and accusations of mishandling the coronavirus crisis.

Smaller protests also took part in several parts in Israel, including overpasses and outside Netanyahu's private house in the upscale town of Caesaria.

After controlling the virus in its first stages in the spring, Israel reopened the economy too fast in May, leading to a spike of cases.

Israel is struggling with the number of confirmed infections exceeding 113,000 cases and the death toll is approaching 1,000.

Business owners, day-to-day workers and smaller vulnerable entrepreneurs who were hard hit by the pandemic-triggered closures took part in anti-Netanyahu demonstrations.

Unemployment rate is hovering over 20%.

Netanyahu's three corruption cases were also adding momentum to the protests.

Last year, he was charged with bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Many protesters say Netanyahu should not serve as a prime minister at a time when he is on trial for serious charges.

In January, his trial will move to a witness phase with three sessions a week.