Protesters outside court as Israel PM trial continues

Both supporters and protesters gathered outside the court in Jerusalem where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for alleged corruption.

Hundreds of protesters calling him the "crime minister" demonstrated outside his official residence, while hundreds of supporters, including leading members of his Likud party, rallied in support of him at the courthouse.

Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes in a series of corruption cases stemming from ties to wealthy friends.

He is accused of accepting gifts and offering to grant favors to powerful media moguls in exchange for favorable coverage of him and his family.

He denies the charges, which come after years of scandals swirling around the family, and on Sunday accused police and prosecutors of conspiring to "depose" him.

The beginning of the trial came just days after the long-serving leader swore in his new government, breaking more than a year of political stalemate following three inconclusive elections.

Netanyahu held his first Cabinet meeting with the new government just hours before heading to court.

Neither he nor any of his ministers addressed the looming trial but the country's outgoing religious affairs minister wished Netanyahu that "God will bring the truth out" at his trial.

Netanyahu and his allies have spent months lashing out the country's law enforcement system, and the charges against him have deeply divided the nation.