Thousands Rally To Support Palestinians Protesters march on consulate, UN By LESLIE CASIMIR New York Daily News Staff Writer Calling for an end to attacks on Palestinians in the Middle East, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 of their supporters rallied in the backyard of the United Nations yesterday, hurling Arabic and English words of outrage at the world's leaders. Carrying posters plastered with grisly photos of bloody bodies and children killed during recent battles between gun-toting Israeli soldiers and rock-hurling protesters, Palestinian New Yorkers called for the U.S. to recognize their homeland's right to autonomy and to pray for peace. "We want the government to be evenhanded in its relationship with Israel and the Palestinian people," said Siraj Wahhaj, an imam at the Al Daquaa Mosque in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. "If there is no justice for the Palestinian people, there will never be peace in the Middle East. Never." Wahhaj spoke to thousands of kneeling Muslims — Arab, black, white, women and men — who filled Dag Hammarskjold Plaza near the UN, chanting among other things, "Allah akhbar" — God is the greatest. Some waved placards that read, "Bullets fly. Children die. Ask Clinton why." "The U.S. is not using my tax dollars for the homeless, not for more school vouchers or better programs for kids," said Mona Ajayeh, 30, a Palestinian-American teacher from Bergen County, N.J. "They're using it to support Israel so they can kill my family." The rally came a day after a demonstration in support of Israel attended by Rep. Rick Lazio, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Mayor Giuliani and other politicians. None of them showed up yesterday. Demonstrators began assembling on E. 42nd St. and Second Ave. in the late morning, tying up midtown traffic for most of the day. The march to Dag Hammarskjold Plaza began about 1 p.m., with shouting throngs heading north on Third Ave. before turning east to the plaza at E. 47th St. Police said they made one arrest: a 15-year-old boy who was charged with smashing a window in a Chinese restaurant at 922 Second Ave. Many of the marchers, some of whom came from as far as Pennsylvania, spoke about how the Middle East crisis has disrupted their lives. Many families have purchased satellite dishes to watch Arab television, citing distrust of American media. Many mothers, some with veils, some without, kept their children home from school. Fathers took the day off from work. Teenage boys covered their faces with scarves, waving the Palestinian flag. "Palestinians and other Arabs don't have a voice in this country — they are not politically powerful," said Iman Ibrahim, a hospital secretary from North Bergen, N.J. "Hopefully, our children will grow up and go into politics and give us power." Bay Ridge resident Naser Abdul, 17, attended the rally a day after being suspended from Fort Hamilton High School for refusing to read a required book for his English class: "The Diary of Anne Frank." "My emotions are too high — I don't want to feel sorry for Jewish people right now," said Naser, who displayed a scar on his left forearm where he said a rubber bullet struck him two years ago while he was on vacation in Ramallah on the West Bank. "I don't care about nothing else except fighting for Palestine." A group of 20 Orthodox Jews from the Neturi Karta International Organization showed up at the demonstration, calling for an end to Israeli aggression. "We must live in peace," said Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of Rockland County. "We want to live under Palestinian leadership." The crowd roared in approval. Similar demonstrations were held throughout the nation, including in front of the White House, where hundreds of pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered. With Joe Williams Original Publication Date: 10/14/00