Small attendance did not prevent a group of 20 Muslims from protesting the United States' support of Israel in the Middle East conflict Monday.

"I would like to see the U.S. playing a stronger role and an unbiased role," said Fatina Masi, president of the Detroit women's chapter of the American Muslim Council.

The protestors stood outside the State Capitol in Lansing, calling for an end to what they said was an American bias toward Israel and asking for more exposure devoted to the Palestinian plight. They said Palestinians are being kicked out of their homes and are victims of atrocities in Jenin refugee camp. They also said they did not take comfort from recent Israeli withdrawals in the West Bank.

"They withdraw from one place they destroyed. They go to another place, they destroy it," Masi said.

The protestors said they have little trust in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. They said he has a history of crimes against the Palestinians, including massacres at Lebanese refugee camps in 1982.

"He has always proved to be a man that is not on the peace side," Masi said.

Masi added that she hopes the U.S. government can be more sympathetic to the Palestinians. While she said she feels President Bush is biased toward Israel, she said Secretary of State Colin Powell's presence in the Middle East brings her slight optimism.

"Our last hope was Colin Powell. We're hoping he will carry the peace mission," Masi said.

Michelle Kahn, an AMC Detroit woman's chapter member, said American business leaders need to play a stronger role in speaking out against Palestinians. She said she believes that if the IMF and World Bank put enough pressure on the American government, it would be inclined to be less biased towards Israel. She recalled the civil rights boycott forty years ago where business leaders were also responsible for much of the undoing of segregation laws.

"They have to step up to leadership," she said.

Khan also said an objective of the demonstration was to raise awareness among the American people for the Palestinian cause. She said many people are afraid to show sympathy for Palestinians because of the anti-Muslim sentiments in the U.S. following Sept. 11.

"(Ordinary people) want to speak out, but they have concerns," Khan said.

Masi said she believes the American people can relate to the Palestinians more since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"The tragedy that happened (Sept. 11) has been happening in Palestine since 1948," she said. "The Palestinians are victims to the Israeli people, similar to what happened here."

The protestors said peace in the Middle East is still possible, despite the current political climate.

"Right now, some miracle has to happen," AMC-Lansing media relations spokeswoman Nadia El-Hussieny said. "But we're still hoping for peace."

RC senior Dena Stein said she does not want to see innocent Palestinian civilians killed, but she said she feels Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has not done his job in cracking down on terrorists and suicide bombers.

"The Israelis were forced to take the matter into their own hands," Stein said. "I don't think Israel should sit there and do nothing and have terrorism occur in its borders day in and day out."