On Sunday, a Jerusalem Court ordered the release of a leading activist opposed to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s rule & whose arrest prompted hundreds to protest outside the Israeli leader’s residence.

Retired Brig. Gen. Amir Haskel has been a leader of the protest movement against Netanyahu, demanding that the long-time leader step down while facing charges of fraud, breach of trust & accepting bribes. Haskel & several others were detained on Friday in what police said was an “illegal” demonstration because the protesters blocked roads.

Haskel, a former top Israeli air force general, has become a symbol of the protest movement that opposes Netanyahu’s continued rule. Demonstrations have been held regularly around the country, with protesters waving signs reading “crime minister” & calling for Netanyahu to resign.

“No one will prevent us from protesting anywhere,” Haskel said upon his release, adding a barb toward Netanyahu about his own brief experience in jail. “We were in Hadarim prison for 15 hours. It wasn’t pleasant, but it wasn’t terrible.”

The arrests drew angry denunciations from prominent Israelis & sent hundreds out to protest outside Netanyahu’s residence on Saturday, with many slamming the police for making what they viewed as politically-motivated arrests.

Police said they offered to release Haskel & others if they agreed to refrain from returning to the scene of the protests. Haskel & two others refused.

Gabi Lasky, the lawyer representing Haskel, told Israeli Army Radio that the Court eventually released him without conditions, saying protesting was the foundation of democracy.

Israel’s acting Police Chief said the force would learn a lesson from the incident.

Acting commissioner Motti Cohen said said that “The role of the police is to allow freedom of expression & demonstration to every person & to keep the public peace & security, this regardless of the protest’s subject, the identity of the protesters or their opinions".

Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial for a series of scandals in which he allegedly received lavish gifts from billionaire friends & traded regulatory favours with media moguls for more palatable coverage of himself & his family. The trial is set to resume next month.

The PM has denied wrongdoing, calling the charges a witch-hunt against him by a hostile media & a biased law enforcement system.

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