Natural gas deal push angers Israelis

As Israel prepares to push through a long-delayed landmark natural gas deal, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing a growing backlash by protesters who accuse him of using shady backroom dealings and strong-arm tactics to push through the plan.

While some critics say the deal is a sellout, much of the opposition has focused on the great lengths Netanyahu has gone to win its approval. To clear the final hurdle, he is said to have orchestrated the resignation of his economics minister to personally overturn an antitrust ruling against the deal.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in recent weekly protests - the biggest show of discontent with the government's economic policies since demonstrations over the country's high cost of living in the summer of 2011.