Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in central Tel Aviv Saturday evening, calling for the replacement of incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the March 17 elections.

The rally, titled "Israel wants change", was organised by a non-profit organisation. Many participants held signs supporting center-left parties, including the Zionist Union and Meretz, Xinhua reported.

Main speakers at the gathering included former chief of the Mossad spy agency Meir Dagan and Michal Kesten Keidar, the widow of Dolev Keidar who was killed in Israel's 50-day military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip last summer.

"I fear our leadership ended with no deterrence and no diplomatic achievements," Dagan told the crowd at the square where late Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated almost two decades ago.

Netanyahu is "fighting only one campaign -- the campaign for his own political survival," he said, adding that "in the name of this (Gaza) war he is dragging us down to a bi-national state and to the end of the Zionist dream."

Michal Kesten Keidar also blasted Netanyahu for his handling of the conflict with the Palestinians.