Thousands protest in Israel over Netanyahu's 'attack on democracy'

Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets to call for a new ceasefire in Gaza and to protest against what they say is an attack on democracy by the rightwing governing coalition of Benjamin Netanyahu.

- Jason Burke

Key highways were blocked and police made at least 12 arrests amid heated scenes in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv yesterday. More protests were expected in the coming days as the campaign "gathers momentum and energy", activists said.

The immediate trigger for the anger was Netanyahu's attempt to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the internal security agency, but the prime minister's decision to shatter a two-month-old truce in Gaza with waves of lethal airstrikes has fuelled the demonstrations.

Protesters accuse the government of continuing the war for political reasons and ignoring the plight of 59 hostages - about 24 of whom are believed to be alive and still being held by Hamas in the devastated Palestinian territory.

"This government has now also started a war, once again, to protect itself, to divert the discourse from the things that bother the public in Israel. The government has lost all legitimacy on every possible level... they are failing," said Eitan Herzel, chief executive of the Brothers in Arms protest movement.

Thousands packed streets close to Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, many carrying Israeli flags and placards with slogans in support of hostages still held in Gaza.

Others beat drums and chanted "hostages deal now" as they marched in from other parts of Israel.

Ora Nakash Peled, a former senior naval officer and an organiser of the protests, had come from her home on a kibbutz near the northern city of Haifa. She had spent the night with other protesters in a camp outside Jerusalem before walking into the city along a major highway.