Arab Israeli protest convoys converge on Jerusalem

Two convoys of at least 100 vehicles each have converged on Jerusalem from the north and south of the country to protesting the recent demolitions of homes belonging to Arab citizens, and the deadly incident that occurred during one recent demolition.

Hundreds of people are rallying at the Knesset, including several lawmakers from the Joint (Arab) List party, with a number of people waving black flags to symbolize mourning and holding pictures of Yaqoub Mousa Abu Al-Qia’an, who was killed under uncertain circumstances when the car he was driving rammed into and killed policeman Erez Lavi at a protest in the Bedouin village of Umm al-Hiran during home demolitions last week.

The convoy to the Knesset, one of which left from the Arab village of Qalansawe in the north, where 11 homes were recently demolished, and another collective of drivers from the south, is part of a series of protests called by Israel’s Arab leadership.

— Dov Lieber