Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the opposition on Wednesday of fueling "anarchy" in Israel following mass anti-government protests in recent days.
In a speech to parliament, Netanyahu addressed the opposition, stating: "You recycle the same worn-out and ridiculous slogans about 'the end of democracy.’ Well, once and for all: Democracy is not in danger; it is the power of the bureaucrats that is in danger."
He continued, "Perhaps you could stop putting spanners in the works of the government in the middle of a war? Perhaps you could stop fueling the sedition, hatred, and anarchy in the streets?"
Thousands of Israelis have participated in anti-government protests, accusing Netanyahu of undermining democracy and resuming strikes in Gaza without regard for hostages.
The demonstrations, which began last week, have been organized by a broad coalition of anti-Netanyahu groups, protesting the prime minister's move to oust Ronen Bar, the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency.
Israel's opposition filed an appeal against the move to dismiss Bar, calling it "a decision based on a flagrant conflict of interest."
Netanyahu has pressed ahead with the process to sack Bar, though the Supreme Court blocked this move on Friday. The government has also begun proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, who has challenged the legality of some of Netanyahu's policies.
Following a rally in Tel Aviv, the commercial hub of Israel, protesters are expected to travel to Jerusalem for an anti-government demonstration outside parliament on Wednesday evening.
Israel resumed intense airstrikes across the Gaza Strip last week, followed by ground operations, shattering the relative calm of a January ceasefire with Hamas.
There are still 58 hostages in Gaza, including 34 that the Israeli military says are dead, out of the 251 taken during Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war.
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