Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu struck back on Sunday at demonstrations calling for his resignation, accusing protesters of trampling democracy and the Israeli media of encouraging them.

Thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets, including outside Netanyahu's Jerusalem home, to protest against alleged corruption and economic hardship stemming from lockdowns during the coronavirus crisis.

Criticizing the protesters and the media at the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that while demonstrators portray their campaign as an attempt to "preserve Israeli democracy, I see it as an attempt to trample democracy."

Netanyahu, who was sworn in for a fifth term in May, has often complained of press bias against him.

"They do not report the demonstrations – they participate in them. They add fuel," said Netanyahu, who returned as prime minister in 2009 after a first term from 1996-99.

Netanyahu, 70, said no one was trying to restrict the demonstrations, in which many of the protesters are young Israelis. Opinion polls have shown his popularity in decline.

Netanyahu's main coalition partner, Defense Minister Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White party, defended the demonstrations.

"The right to protest is the lifeblood of democracy," Gantz said at the cabinet meeting.

(Cover image via Reuters)