 | By Jonathan Hoffman
April 16, 2010 | Share |
The Zionist Federation has released the following press release and letter to the ASA:
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The Zionist Federation was very disturbed to read the adjudication (14 April) of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about an advert for tourism in Israel.
This adjudication is grossly disproportionate since there is not the slightest risk that the British public would be misled by the inclusion of photos of the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock into thinking that East Jerusalem was not disputed territory. There is no other way for tourists to see these sights other than through Israel. Indeed Israel took responsibility to support the religious sites of all denominations, a commitment which formed part of the obligations of an agreement with the Palestinian Authority signed in 1995. East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel over 40 years ago. Legally, from Israel ’s point of view, it is one City with no difference between East and West
By saying that photos of the Western Wall and Dome of the Rock cannot be shown in Israel tourism advertising, the ASA is therefore preventing them being shown in ANY tourism advertising. That cannot be to the benefit of tourists.
We note that this ASA adjudication can be reviewed by the Independent Reviewer (Sir Hayden Phillips) at the request of the advertiser and that he can call for a review if there is “a substantial flaw of process or adjudication …. or where additional relevant evidence becomes available.”
We hope that there is such a review and that this results in the ASA Council changing its ruling.
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We encourage you to write to the ASA encouraging them to change the adjudication in the event of a Review
You can contact them by email: enquiries@asa.org.uk
Or by post: Advertising Standards Authority, 71 Mid City Place , High Holborn London WC1V 6QT
Or by phone: 020 7492 2222
Statement from Israel Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov
"Jerusalem , through the city's myriad of religious and historical sites, is one of the most important tourism destinations in the State of Israel. The city attracts on a yearly basis millions of tourists of all faiths and nationalities, regardless of their personal or political persuasion. The Ministry of Tourism is positioning Israel worldwide as the Holy Land, with Jerusalem at it's core, which represents more than a city of Peace , but also the united capital of the State of Israel. Just as no religious faction would interfere with the official stand of the English government regarding the country's marketing policy, so the attempt to do so towards Israel is at the outset flawed and therefore, under no circumstances negotiable."
Contact: Alan Aziz, ZF
