West Bank Authorities Finance Massive Pro-Netanyahu Rally

Israeli authorities in the West Bank paid for ads summoning residents from the nearby settlements, and would subsidize their transportation to Tel Aviv's Rabin Square, where the rally would take place, Haaretz newspaper reported Sunday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The demonstration, titled "United for the Land of Israel," was organized in response to last Saturday's left-wing demonstration that called for the replacement of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the upcoming general election.

An early general election in Israel is scheduled for March 17. The two main rivals are the largest parties – Likud, headed by Netanyahu, and the opposition Zionist Union, led by Isaac Herzog.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would attend the rally in Tel Aviv, funded by West Bank’s Israeli authorities.

The latest poll, published by Haaretz on Thursday, indicates a growing lead for Isaac Herzog over Netanyahu's party. The Zionist Union is polling 24 seats in the Knesset against 21 for Likud.

The right-wing rally set for Sunday, just two days prior to the general election, is expected to gather 50,000 people.

The West Bank is an area disputed between the Palestinians and Israel, occupied by the latter following the 1967 Six-Day War. Since then, Israel has built numerous settlements and recently announced new construction plans. Condemnation by the Palestinian Authority and the international community have failed to deter the Israeli plans.