...At the protests yesterday, about 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, including Episcopal Bishop M. Thomas Shaw and several other Episcopal priests, called on Israel to pull its troops out of Gaza. The protesters held signs reading ``Stop Collective Punishment" and ``Stop the Siege."

``We pray for Israeli soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit and for an immediate and peaceful halt to the hostilities raging for the past two weeks in the Gaza Strip and for the peaceful coexistence of Israel and Palestine," Shaw said. He called for the end to the Gaza occupation and to terrorism against Israel.

About 50 pro-Israel demonstrators held blue-and-white Israeli flags and signs reading ``We Support Israel" and ``End the Missiles." Nancy K. Kaufman , the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, asked why the protesters hadn't demonstrated when Israelis were killed, and said: ``There needs to be an end to terror. That is what we pray for."

At several points, protesters started shouting at one another. While Shaw was speaking, an Israel supporter stopped his Toyota Camry in the street, jumped out, and started shouting ``Israel! Israel!" A pro-Palestinian protester shouted ``Fascist!" in response.

The two sides began arguing vociferously at the entrance to the building housing the consulate, and the police officers called for backup.

The police asked the two groups -- who were standing on both sides of Park Plaza, separated by Hadassah Way and by the entryway to the Statler building -- to stop using bullhorns to communicate, saying that such action requires a permit. The arguments then quieted down.

On both sides, passions were running deep. Susan Allen , a protester from Brookline, accused Israel of ``bulldozing the homes of innocent children," and an organizer of the protest, Sharif Fam, said, ``if you support war crimes, you unfortunately will become a target."

A counterdemonstrator, Dexter Van Zile , accused the Episcopal Church of ``defamation of the Jewish homeland" and said ``Episcopalians should be ashamed of Bishop Shaw's presence here," while Andrew Tarsy , the regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, said ``it's a sad day when legitimate social action merges with the extremist fringe, and that's what's happening here."

Eventually, heavy rain began to fall, and the demonstrators dispersed...