Holy Land: 'Don't advertise settlements as part of Israel, rules ASA'

Separation Wall - image ICN

An advertisement displaying properties for sale in illegal Israeli settlements was criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), in a ruling issued today, 2 November 2011.

Campaigners have welcomed the decision by the ASA to uphold the complaint, made by Michael Shanahan against an Israel Lease Acquisitions Network (ILAN) advertisement in the Jewish Chronicle, published on 24 June 2011.

The ASA also expressed further concern that ILAN's failed to respond to the complaint showing (according to the ASA) an 'apparent disregard' for the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (the CAP code).

This is the latest in a series of complaints, upheld by the ASA, where advertisers have wrongly described occupied Palestinian territory as in Israel. One such complaint, by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Jews for Justice for Palestinians, focused on an advert on London Underground which displayed a map of Israel as including the West
Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights. Transport for London removed this advert following complaints by 600 people.

The ASA said the company had breached two parts of the code, 'unreasonable delay' in responding, and 'misleading advertising'.

PSC Director, Sarah Colborne, said; "Those making money from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories may choose to forget they are profiting from
stolen land, but those who care about international law will take every opportunity to remind them. We will not let them mislead the British public into believing these are legitimate sales.

"The ASA has been clear: don't mislead the public - these settlements are built on occupied land."

An advertisement displaying properties for sale in illegal Israeli settlements was criticised by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), in a ruling issued on 2 November 2011.

PSC welcomes the decision by the ASA to uphold the complaint, made by Michael Shanahan against an Israel Lease Acquisitions Network (ILAN) advertisement in the Jewish Chronicle, published on 24 June 2011.

The ASA also expressed further concern that ILAN's failed to respond to the complaint showing (according to the ASA) an 'apparent disregard' for the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising (the CAP code). This is the latest in a series of complaints, upheld by the ASA, where advertisers have wrongly described occupied Palestinian
territory as in Israel.

One such complaint, by Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Jews for Justice for Palestinians, focused on an advert on London Underground which displayed a map of Israel as including the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan Heights. Transport for London removed this advert following complaints by 600 people.

The ASA said the company had breached two parts of the code, 'unreasonable delay' in responding, and 'misleading advertising'.

PSC Director, Sarah Colborne, said: "Those making money from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories may choose to forget they are profiting from stolen land, but those who care about international law will take every opportunity to remind them. We will not let them mislead the British public into believing these are legitimate sales.

The ASA has been clear: don't mislead the public - these settlements are built on occupied land."

A representative of a Christian organisation working with refugees near Bethlehem said: "I am glad the ASA had taken this stand. The impact of these illegal settlements on the Christian community is devastating. From the Shepherds Fields now, which used to be a popular destination for pilgrims, you can see the hillsides covered in these rather ugly townhouses that are part of an illegal settlement."

Source: PSC/CPT