On Saturday, July 24, San Francisco’s Mission District was the site of a curious spectacle. Members of the Free Palestine Alliance (all 30 of them) had gathered at the busy corner of 24th and Mission to protest what they call the "Israeli Apartheid Wall" (otherwise known as a security fence) by holding a "Solidarity Fast for Justice and Peace." And conversely, members of Protest Warrior and San Francisco Voice for Israel (SFV4I) were there to counter-protest the protesters.

The event was ripe with political theater. The protesters had erected a large wall-like structure in reference to Israel’s security barrier, while among the counter-protesters could be seen a man in a fake suicide bomber get-up with a sign attached to his chest that read, "I’m why Israel needs a fence."

Israeli flags were everywhere, providing a stark contrast to the sea of Palestinian flags on the other side. In answer to the protesters’ alleged "fast" (they looked pretty well fed), the counter-protest conveyed a picnic-like atmosphere. Festive Israeli music blared from a boom box, while cookies and drinks were handed out to the crowd. At one point, the Protest Warriors had a pizza delivered, which was consumed with relish. Pizza slices were offered to the "fasters," but to no avail.

While the protesters seemed typically gloomy, spirits were high among the counter-protesters. Indeed, it was a raucous affair, with dueling chants, strategic booing and cheering, and playful yet confrontational exchanges.

When the "Queers for Palestine" speaker went up, a member of SFV4I chanted over the bullhorn, "We’re Here, We’re Queer, and Israel Gives Us Rights!" Off to the side, someone else shouted, "They stone queers in Palestine!"

Attempts by the pro-Palestinian speakers to espouse the falsehoods of "apartheid" and "genocide" against Israel, were met by loud chants of "Bullsh-t!" and "Liar!" When a self-professed "grandmother" described an alleged "gang rape" at the hands of IDF soldiers, she was met with cries of "Stop Lying!" When speakers chanted for "Peace Not War," counter-protesters chanted back, "Stop Killing Jews!"

One speaker made the mistake of admitting to being called a "self-hating Jew" to which the counter-protesters cheered in agreement and chanted "Self-hating Jew!" Several speakers tried to convince the Jews present that "U.S. imperialism" was the cause of the anti-Semitism they’re experiencing, not of course the relentless barrage of anti-Jewish propaganda emanating from the Arab world. This preposterous claim was met with jeers and laughter from the other side.

When a women started ranting about what would happen if President Bush won in November, the Protest Warriors chanted, "Four More Years!" One member captured the essence of the protesters’ "arguments" perfectly, by mimicking their speeches with a bullhorn: "Blah, blah, blah, occupation, blah, blah, blah, Palestine."

Organizers tried to frame the event as somehow critical to Latinos and to this effect, several speakers gave their talks in Spanish. "Viva, Viva, Palestina!" was a popular refrain among the protesters, while the counter-protesters chimed in with, "Viva, Viva, Israel!" Several Latinos joined the counter-protesters in opposition to the fringe left La Raza types on the other side. A neighborhood man walking by stopped to voice his approval, saying that the "terrorists need to stop the killing too."

Among the anti-Israel protesters were a contingent of fresh-faced college students who dutifully chanted "Free Palestine" in unison and waved Palestinian flags. When asked if they were aware of the chaos ensuing in "Free Palestine" at this very moment, two young men denied the reports, claiming that the "media is controlled by Jews."

Over the past couple of years, such counter-protests have become a regular occurrence in San Francisco, where local leftist events, particularly of an anti-Israel bent, are routinely met with opposition. And as the numbers of protesters dwindle, the numbers of counter-protesters increases.

No longer able to spew their propaganda unopposed, the Israel-Haters are now forced to engage in a battle of ideas, and if Saturday’s counter-protest was any indication, it’s one that they’re losing.