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CNN Sunday Morning

In U.S. People Grow Resistant to Middle East Crisis

Aired April 07, 2002 - 07:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The people in other cities have grown resistant about the Middle East crisis. CNN's Brian Palmer reports on the spread of anti-Israeli sentiment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Brooklyn, New York, protesters opposed to Israel's military moves in the West Bank rehearse their chants before a scheduled march. Among the organizers, Pam Galpern, a 33-year-old Jewish-American, a telephone repair worker in her nine to five existence and 24-year-old, Monica Tarazi (ph), a Palestinian-American and the Director of The New York office of The American-Arab Discrimination Committee.

PROTESTERS: Free, Palestinian. Free, Palestinian.

PAM GALPERN, JEWS AGAINST THE OCCUPATION: Well, I think as a Jewish person, I feel a particular responsibility to say that I don't agree with the Israeli army is doing and I think there are a lot of Jews who don't agree with what's happening.

MONICA TARAZI, DIRECTOR, THE NEW YORK OFFICE OF THE ARAB-AMERICAN DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE: Obviously, as a Palestinian-American, I have loved ones there who I'm very concerned about. I speak on the phone to friends and family in Palestinian and they describe horrific situations.

PALMER: Among the protesters, a range of political persuasions and agendas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What it does is show that first of all we need to have...

PALMER: One woman takes issue with a fellow message is not peaceful.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not trying to be (UNINTELLIGIBLE), but I just -- I don't think we can -- a chance of peace is going to end this...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.

PALMER: In recent days, such large demonstrations have been held across the country. There have been far fewer public displays of support of Israel, but there have been some.

JOE SEGAL, ISRAELI SUPPORTER: Our government asking Israel to make peace with Arafat because he's the duly appointed leader is as if Israel were to ask us to make peace with bin Laden because he's the duly appointed leader of al Qaeda. It makes no sense.

UNIDENTIFIED POLICEMAN: By blocking pedestrian and vehicular traffic, you're in violation of the New York City Administrative Code, Section double 10, dash, one, 10.

PALMER: Under tight, controlled by the New York City Police Department, which kept a water cannon ready, the march snaked its way across the Brooklyn Bridge.

PROTESTERS: God save Palestinian! God save Palestinian!

PALMER: At the end of the day, according to the police department, no arrests and no violence.

TARAZI: We're not going to stop protesting until there is justice in Palestine. So we'll see you again next week.

PALMER: For the protesters, a well utilized opportunity to take their message to the media.

Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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