Protesters outside Netanyahu’s house on fourth day of demonstrations in Israel | Abroad

Once again, thousands of demonstrators stood in front of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament building. About three thousand of them marched to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s house in the evening, where they demanded his resignation.

Police said some “rioters” tried to remove barriers. Mounted police charged into the crowds to prevent them from breaking through the fences and reaching the prime minister’s home.

Images showed that one of the demonstrators had laid down under a police vehicle so that the water cannon on the vehicle could not be used against demonstrators. The police managed to get him out of there.

Large demonstrations against the government have been organized since Saturday. Tents have been set up in front of the parliament building, so that the demonstrators can stay for days.

The demonstrators have several reasons for taking to the streets. For example, they are demanding new elections now that Netanyahu has rejected them again. The demonstrators are also fighting for an agreement for the release of the more than 130 hostages that Hamas is believed to still be holding in Gaza. According to the demonstrators, the prime minister is failing to bring the hostages home.

People are also taking to the streets because they disagree with the exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The demonstrators want the burdens to be shared more fairly.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews have not been required to join the army since the establishment of the state of Israel. Netanyahu actually had to come up with a new law this month to guarantee that exemption after March. But the Supreme Court has granted him a one-month reprieve.