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'He's the centre of this catastrophe' - Protesters march against Netanyahu government in Jerusalem, call war with Iran 'a mistake'

"Demonstrators marched through the streets of Jerusalem on Saturday in a weekly protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, condemning the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) actions and demanding elections. Footage shows rally participants holding placards reading, 'We are not our government' and 'Agreements save lives', as some beat drums and carry Israeli flags. Demonstrators blamed Netanyahu for waging conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. "He's the centre of this catastrophe," said a protester, Shielev. "I think that if he goes away, then even the Likud will become, you know, what it used to be 20 years ago, which is a national party." "We could have avoided the war, all the ruins, all the people killed here, there. And this whole war with Iran was a mistake from the beginning till the end," he added. Another protester, Ayelet, declared that the root cause of all the problems was 'occupation'. "It's the basis of all our problems. If there was no occupation and if we were a two-state solution or an all-citizens country, I think we would be better," she stressed. A similar anti-war demonstration was also held in Habima Square in Tel Aviv. Israel's 2026 legislative election is set for October 27, when voters will choose 120 members of the 26th Knesset. Reports indicated that political strains could trigger an early vote as soon as September if the coalition fragments."