3 Attacked in Chicago Jewish Area

Friday, October 13th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

CHICAGO (AP) â€” Three men were attacked in separate incidents in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, and police say the attackers were Palestinian in two of the cases. None of the men were injured.

The attacks Thursday in West Rogers Park, a neighborhood on Chicago's North Side, followed weeks of violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East. They also came on the same day that more than 3,000 supporters of Israel rallied at a Chicago hotel while Palestinian protesters marched outside. Four people were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.

The attacks occurred within a half-hour span starting at about 10 p.m. Thursday.

In one case, someone in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle fired four to five shots at a rabbi who was sitting in his car, police Officer Patrice Harper said Friday. No suspects have been arrested.

The other two cases involved teen-agers accused of firing marbles from a slingshot at men they believed to be Jewish.

In the first case, the teens pulled up alongside a man walking home from his synagogue and asked if he was Jewish, Harper said. When he did not respond, the teens aimed the marbles at his head, Harper said.

A few minutes later, another man saw a van sitting in the middle of the street with its engine running. The teens inside also aimed marbles at his head, Harper said.

Two 17-year-olds and a 14-year-old were arrested. Harper said they told police they were of Palestinian descent. No charges had been filed as of early Friday.