THOUSANDS of people joined protests in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, undeterred by scores of arrests earlier in the week.

Israel has seen weekly demonstrations against Mr Netanyahu as public anger over his alleged corruption and handling of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to mount.

Twelve arrests were made in the early hours of yesterday, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld confirmed.

Crowds gathered outside his official Balfour Street residence in West Jerusalem, holding placards reading: “We are fed up with the corrupt” and other slogans.

Demonstrators lined bridges and motorway junctions waving black flags, the symbol of one of the movements behind the protests.

Last week, the beleaguered prime minister warned protesters: “Do not drag the country into anarchy, violence, vandalism.”

He has been accused of ordering a heavy-handed response to the growing demonstrations after police used tear gas and water cannon on crowds.

On Thursday, at least 55 people were arrested on charges of disturbing public order and assaulting officers during a protest in Jerusalem.

Mr Netanyahu has been indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three cases, with witnesses set to testify next January.

Israelis are also furious at his government’s failure to make payments fast enough to those suffering financial hardship because of the coronavirus lockdown.

Unemployment soared from 3.4 per cent in February to 27 per cent in April. The proportion of people out of work dropped slightly to 23.5 per cent in May after Israel came out of lockdown, but the government has been criticised for lifting the restrictions too early.

Health Ministry statistics released on Saturday showed 1,021 new coronavirus cases in just 24 hours.

The country has recorded 60,496 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 455 deaths.