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CNN Saturday Morning News

Pro-Palestinian Rally in New York Showcases Divisive Issues

Aired April 06, 2002 - 07:32   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: New York police say a pro-Palestinian rally in Times Square crew is - or Times Square grew to about 2,000 people. They were a mix of races and ages, but all urged the U.S. to do more to stop Israeli incursions in the Palestinian-controlled territories.

CNN's Brian Palmer has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN PALMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anger over the bloody conflict in the Middle East appears thousands of miles away in New York City, supporters of the Palestinians protesting Israel's recent military actions.

Their language, loud and harsh. Their message: Israel is wrong.

This Palestinian American tells CNN his cousin was recently shot by Israeli soldiers in Ramallah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The onus now is on the aggressor, who is sending tanks, killing innocent civilians and killing Palestinian children in cold blood. The international community has to stand up for what's right.

PALMER: At an earlier press conference, New York politicians expressed the polar opposite view, and pledged unqualified support for the Israeli government.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give Israel the space it needs to defend itself from the suicide bombers.

PALMER: Aia Hatsa (ph) says her husband, Kobe (ph), a tour guide, was killed by a Palestinian sniper.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're willing to give them almost everything. Barak was give Arafat everything (ph), and he didn't take. We just didn't take it, so of course he start bombing us and start intifada.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Long live Palestine!

PALMER: The pro-Palestinian protest continued into the evening at Times Square, the rhetoric rising as the sun set. From Times Square they marched to the Israeli mission under tight police control. They were met by a small vocal group of counter- protesters waving the flag of Israel. There was no talk of negotiation or compromise, just plenty of shouting, and promises of more to come.

Brian Palmer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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