The largest protest was in Tel Aviv where police said at least 200,000 people were on the streets, while another 30,000 marched in Jerusalem on August 7.

In one of biggest waves of protests in decades in Israel, demonstrators are demanding government action to reduce the cost of housing and food.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld that as well as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, an estimated 20,000 people had taken part in protests in other towns and cities.

Israeli media put the number of protesters closer to 300,000 across the country. This was the third protest in a row.

Israel's annual economic growth is relatively healthy, averaging 4.5% since 2004, and in the same period unemployment has fallen from about 11% to 6%. But the public say this growth has failed to benefit them and there is growing public anger over perceived social inequality, injustice and official corruption.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to reassess his priorities and make housing more affordable.