Anti-Israel bus advertising hits Seattle

Judy Lash Balint

By Judy Lash Balint

JERUSALEM–I was alerted that back in my old hometown of Seattle,  KING5 TV broke the news that some group with nothing better to do with its money has paid for ads  to run on Seattle buses accusing Israel of “war crimes.”

The very fact that this made news would seem to indicate that King Country Metro Transit is violating its guidelines by accepting anti-Israel ads to run on Seattle buses next week.

Metro Transit guidelines state that anything can be posted on the side of Seattle buses : 

“As long as the images and material used don’t interfere with public safety or insult specific groups to the point that a riot could be incited, vandalism could occur or public safety could be threatened.”
Well, wouldn’t you think that some vandalism might occur given the fact that singling out Israel on charges of “war crimes” is so pathetic. I guess the Seattle group doesn’t deem it worthwhile to pay for bus signs accusing any other country that tries to defend its citizens against rocket attacks–but wait, the overall campaign is not Seattle-based–as StandWithUs NW points out, “This is part of a growing campaign that has placed similar ads on buses and billboards in Houston, Albuquerque and San Francisco.”

In fact, the initiative is part of a well-oiled campaign known as Stop30Billion that actually appears to emanate from New Mexico…

It’s time to stop issuing statements that “Israel wants peace…”(that’s what the Soviets said during the Cold War) and go on the offensive against public bodies that allow themselves to be used for political campaigns that are based on completely unsubstantiated, false and biased information.

King County Metro Transit leaders do not want to be drawn into the Mid-East conflict, they have better things to do with their time–we have to make enough noise on our side so they realize that there will be a price to pay for permitting tiny anti-Israel groups to create anger and dissension in the community.

Thanks to StandwithUs NW for providing the comment link for Metro Transit. Click on it, write your comment or call them on Monday at 206-553-3000 to leave a firm but polite comment and pass it on…

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Judy Lash Balint is a freelance writer based in Jerusalem.  She regularly blogs on “Jerusalem Diaries: In Tense Times” 

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  1. Pingback: Seattle transit rejects anti-Israel billboard campaign | San Diego Jewish World

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