JAKARTA, 15 September 2003 — At least 10,000 Indonesian Muslims chanting “Allahu Akbar” (God is Great) and denouncing Israel marched through the streets of Jakarta yesterday, demanding that Palestinians have their own state.

Snarling traffic, the protesters shouted slogans outside the headquarters of the United Nations in central Jakarta and the heavily fortified US Embassy several blocks away. Organizers put the crowd in the tens of thousands.

The protesters were from the Islamic-oriented Justice Party, which has only a few seats in Parliament but has often shown it can put together large, orderly demonstrations in the world’s most populous Muslim country. “Free Palestine from colonial occupation” and “Israel is the real terrorist” read banners, some carried by women in head scarves and long flowing dresses clutching their children.

Many waved Palestinian and Indonesian flags. After a few hours the protesters began to disperse and there were no reports of violence.

The protesters expressed anger at Israel’s vow last week to “remove” Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, although organizers said the focus of the demonstration was Palestinian freedom. “Israel is an uncivilized state,” said student Muhammad Jaelani, 21, wearing a T-shirt that carried a picture of a Palestinian fighter and read “University of Jihad, Palestine.”

“If the United States submits to the wishes of Israel, the Muslim world will not believe it,” said Justice Party leader Hidayat Nur Wahid, speaking outside the US Embassy.

Indonesia said on Friday it would rally opposition to Israel’s decision in principle to move against Arafat. Israel has not said what it might do. Its pledge followed fresh suicide attacks.

About 85 percent of Indonesia’s 210 million people are Muslims and the vast majority are considered moderate and back the government’s clampdown on Islamic militants. But the government and most Indonesians support the Palestinian cause or are opposed to US policies in the Middle East, especially the invasion of Iraq. Street protests against Israel occur periodically.

Indonesia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.