Mideast violence prompts rallies in U.S. cities

Competing demonstrations in D.C.

In Washington, more than 1,000 Jewish-Americans and several hundred Arab-Americans held competing demonstrations within a few hundred yards of each other in Lafayette Park, just across from the White House.

A heavy police presence kept the two groups apart, but occasionally there were confrontations.

With television cameras rolling, two men argued until the pro-Palestinian demonstrator shooed his rival away.

"We don't want to talk to you. Just go, go," he said.

Chicago mayor appeals for dialogue

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in downtown Chicago on Friday.

The protest came one day after several attacks against Jews in the city.

A Jewish rabbi narrowly escaped injury Thursday when his car was sprayed by bullets in a drive-by shooting.

In the two other incidents a few blocks apart, people in a van slung marbles by slingshot at two men, one of whom was asked, "Hey, are you Jewish?" Neither victim was hit and three teen-agers were being questioned, a police spokeswoman said.

Police would not speculate on whether the incidents were related to heightened tensions in the Middle East.

The director of a local Jewish organization said the attacks were clearly connected to events overseas.

"Once again, when things flare up there, Arabs and Muslims act in solidarity with their brethren with illegal acts here," said Jay Tcath, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council.

But Arab-American leaders condemned the incidents and staged protests and a strike of their own.

"We don't condone those attacks at all. We are not encouraging any incidents like that," said Ray Hanania, the publisher of an Arab-American newspaper. "We're doing all we can to quell emotions, to try to direct them into productive protest."

Some of the protests in Chicago were aimed at U.S. media outlets that Arab-American groups feel are biased against the Palestinians.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley appealed for dialogue and police superintendent Terry Hillard said more officers would be assigned in the northwest side community where the attacks occurred.

N.Y. police on 'Bravo' alert

A New York police spokesman also said its force had been put on "Bravo" status, meaning that security would be tighter at all police and government buildings, as well as at some landmarks, tourist attractions and religious buildings and any location associated with the Israeli government or the Palestinian Authority.

That includes the Israeli consulate in midtown Manhattan, which was the site of rallies and demonstrations, both for and against Israel over the past few days.

In an unusual move, mosques in the New York area were closed Friday so that Muslims from around the region could attend the rally at the United Nations, the New York Times reported.

Mosques, where the most devout Muslims gather five times a day to pray, rarely close.