Netanyahu to speak shortly at rally

Some 2,000 people are gathered at a convention center in Airport City at a rally for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu is slated to speak shortly and is expected to use the pulpit to bash the media and protests that have been taking place in Petah Tikva calling for Attorney Avichai Mandelblit to push ahead with legal cases against the prime minister.

Signs at the event hall, most looking professionally made, call for the media to “beg forgiveness” and accuse opponents of attempting a “putsch.”

Speaking before Netanyahu, coalition whip and Netanyahu ally David Bitan says 2,000 more supporters are outside the hall unable to get in and calls for the media to do soul-searching, accusing opponents of “wanting to bring down the prime minister over some cigars,” a reference to a probe into suspicions Netanyahu took gifts from wealthy businessmen.