The Israel Broadcasting Authority has done it again. For the second time this year, it has forbidden for broadcast a series of advertisements designed to attract new buyers to areas within Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Today\'s case involves the Gaza area of Gush Katif, described in the banned commercial as \"a small area with a great destiny.\" MK Mossi Raz (Meretz) felt that an ad that calls living in Gush Katif \"the genuine Zionism and the fulfillment of the great vision\" is too political, and in accordance with his demand, the IBA forbade the commercial from airing. The decision is being appealed.
A Gush Katif representative lamented on Arutz-7 today what he called Raz\'s \"cynical move\" at this particular time, \"following ten months of unrelenting warfare in Gush Katif - there have been no less than 3,000 attacks during this period. The purpose of the ad campaign is only to strengthen and encourage the populace here - and yet Raz finds it appropriate to try to have it censored.\"
Raz succeeded in having a similar ad campaign by the Gush Etzion Regional Council suspended this past April - for a week. The ads featured residents discussing their satisfaction with life in Gush Etzion and calling upon others to join them. The campaign succeeded not only in interesting the public in moving to Gush Etzion, but also in raising morale among those who already live there. MK Raz, calling the issue \"a matter of public debate,\" convinced the IBA of his stand - until its appeals board overturned the decision. The board wrote, \"We found no expression of public debate in the ads… We view with gravity the original decision to suspend the broadcasting of the commercials without advance notice and without explanation…\"
A Gush Katif representative lamented on Arutz-7 today what he called Raz\'s \"cynical move\" at this particular time, \"following ten months of unrelenting warfare in Gush Katif - there have been no less than 3,000 attacks during this period. The purpose of the ad campaign is only to strengthen and encourage the populace here - and yet Raz finds it appropriate to try to have it censored.\"
Raz succeeded in having a similar ad campaign by the Gush Etzion Regional Council suspended this past April - for a week. The ads featured residents discussing their satisfaction with life in Gush Etzion and calling upon others to join them. The campaign succeeded not only in interesting the public in moving to Gush Etzion, but also in raising morale among those who already live there. MK Raz, calling the issue \"a matter of public debate,\" convinced the IBA of his stand - until its appeals board overturned the decision. The board wrote, \"We found no expression of public debate in the ads… We view with gravity the original decision to suspend the broadcasting of the commercials without advance notice and without explanation…\"