Anti-Netanyahu Rally Draws Huge Crowd in Tel Aviv
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Tens of thousands of Israelis have gathered at a Tel Aviv square calling for Benjamin Netanyahu to be replaced as the prime minister in national elections scheduled to be held on March 17.
Police gave no official figures, but Israeli media said that about 30,000 people attended the rally on Saturday, which was held under the banner "Israel wants a change".
The rally's keynote speaker was Meir Dagan, a former Mossad chief, who recently criticised Netanyahu's conduct and called him "the person who has caused the greatest strategic damage to Israel".
"Bibi, you've failed, go home," the demonstrators chanted, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.
Opinion polls show Netanyahu's right-wing Likud running neck-and-neck with rival Isaac Herzog, head of the centre-left Zionist Union, linked to the Labour party.
Netanyahu, seeking a fourth term in office, is seen as having a slight advantage of more parliamentary allies in to form a coalition government.
Latest polls have both Zionist Union and Likud winning 23 of the Knesset's seats, AP reported.
