Source: The Christian Science Monitor

October 16, 2000, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "in a white dress shirt and suit pants, Sherif Mohamed stands silently among a crowd of several thousand chanting protesters in the heart of Manhattan, holding up a hand-lettered sign that reads: 'Palestinians are also God's people.' A recent immigrant from Egypt, he wants to be sure that America's Muslim community, its anger and pleas for peace, are heard. But amid the waving Palestinian flags, mock coffins, and mothers in chadors pushing their toddlers, there's not a US politician to be seen. 'This is the usual way,' says Mr. Mohamed with a dismissive wave of his hand. 'They're all on Israel's side.' As the tensions in the Middle East spill onto America's Main Street, Arab Americans are struggling for the kind of political recognition and clout that could put a different stamp on US Middle East relations...despite their fast-growing numbers - Muslims, who tend to be sympathetic to Arab causes, are expected to outnumber Jews in America in a few years - their political clout remains limited. 'There's no question that the pro-Israel community is plugged in and has resources that its critics don't have,' says Daniel Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum in Philadelphia. 'The Muslim/Arab influence now is more latent than actual, but I think it's evolving and will grow to be more powerful.' But for now, Mohamed is frustrated. On the previous day, when more than 10,000 protesters came to the same spot in support of Israel, almost every major politician in New York turned out.