TEL AVIV: Thousands of Israelis marched against corruption in Tel Aviv yesterday, in the first protest since police recommended that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted for graft, reports AFP.

Several thousand people gathered for the protest calling on Netanyahu to step down, carrying banners reading ‘Crime Minister’ and ‘Bye bye Bibi’—a common nickname for the Israeli leader.

The crowd chanted “Liar! Liar!” when one speaker sarcastically repeated Netanyahu’s common refrain about the allegations that “there will be nothing because there is nothing”. On Tuesday, police called for Netanyahu, 68, to be indicted for bribery, fraud and breach of public trust, in the biggest challenge yet to the right-wing premier’s long tenure in power.

He has repeatedly denied the allegations, which he says are politically motivated, and has rejected calls to step down.

Netanyahu’s partners in his coalition government have so far stood by him, and a prime minister facing such police recommendations or who has been formally charged is not obliged to resign.