Thousands march in Tel Aviv against corruption in Israel

Thousands of Israelis marched in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night in what organisers called a "March of Shame" in protest against government corruption.

The turnout in the Israeli capital was estimated at around 10,000, sharply down from the tens of thousands who had marched a week earlier.

Marchers chanted "Bibi go home", using the nickname of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who is under police investigation over suspicions of various graft offences.

His close political ally MP David Bitan, parliamentary chairman of the ruling coalition, has also been grilled at length over separate allegations of bribery and links with organised crime during his time as deputy mayor of Rishon Lezion, near Tel Aviv.

Israeli police closed the upscale Rothschild Boulevard and a number of surrounding main thoroughfares for the march but did not give an estimate of attendance.

The protest was billed as being non-partisan and some marchers wore T-shirts with the slogan "Not right, not left, straight" in Hebrew.

Media commentators had predicted that fewer might take part in the demonstration as Netanyahu's popularity was boosted by US President Donald Trump on Wednesday following his recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Netanyahu's warm relationship with Trump was widely credited with influencing what he called the president's "historic" and "courageous and just decision".

The controversial recognition, however, sparked a worldwide diplomatic backlash.

Netanyahu is suspected of having received luxury gifts from affluent individuals including Israeli businessman and Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, who has also been questioned.

Milchan, a long-time friend of Netanyahu, reportedly sent him boxes of expensive cigars and other items worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Netanyahu has also been questioned over a secret deal he allegedly sought for favourable coverage with the publisher of top-selling Israeli daily Yediot Aharonot.

Investigators suspect that the alleged pact - believed not to have been finalised - would have seen him receive favourable newspaper coverage in return for helping curb Yediot's competitor, the pro-Netanyahu freesheet Israel Hayom.

The 68-year-old, who has been questioned by police six times in connection with the investigations, has maintained his innocence.

Netanyahu has consistently denied any wrongdoing and says he has been the target of a campaign by political opponents.

Netanyahu has ramped up his hard-line rhetoric in the face of corruption allegations, attacking the media and giving speeches in West Bank settlements where he has vowed never to remove them.