Jerusalem Freedom Convoy (Photo Essay)

By BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Posted on 02/14/22

Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 14, 2022 - Hundreds of protesters were on their way to the Knesset in Jerusalem as Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett prepared to embark on a historic visit to Bahrain at the invitation of Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the first visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to Bahrain on Monday, February 14, 2022.

The "Freedom Convoy,” according to the event’s organizers was to pressure the government to lift the state of emergency declared because of the coronavirus. Though inspired by the truckers of the Canadian Freedom Convoy, in Jerusalem, the demonstration was more a hodgepodge of protest groups organized by laypeople, funded via a crowdfunding campaign that caused traffic delays and road closures.

Cars were parked next to the Knesset back entrance, though no one was allowed to pass thru the area of the main entrance. Cars were honking with one man dancing on the roof of his car at the service area gate. Large trucks were kept away, but people were able to walk thru the Rose Garden and around Gan Sacher to assemble at the traffic circle near the Knesset entrance. 

Canadian flags were seen as well as Israeli ones, and multiple banners and stickers for multiple causes. The horns and drums and chanting sounded muck like those of the anti-Bibi protests in Jerusalem. Only these today were new anti-government ones. Besides a giant COVID model on a truck,  a Pegasus (sus is a horse in Hebrew) on a truck was diverted away from the Knesset.

The result of the closings and traffic was not appreciated by residents who had trouble with their commutes. As the noise of the demonstration quieted down, the sounds of the musical trucks for Purim Katan could be heard.