'Survivor' ads censored in Bnei Brak

Billboards in the central city of Bnei Brak advertising the next season of the Israeli "Survivor" were "censored" by municipality workers.

Notices were posted on the large signs with the words "This ad is illegal" written in bold red letters. The ads themselves were completely modest, and did not include any images of women.

Municipality spokesman Abraham Tenenboim explained to Ynet that the city has a contract with the billboard company operating in the city which stipulates that any advertisement posted in the city must have the approval of the local authority.

He said the Survivor ads were posted without the necessary authorization, and were consequently covered.

Censored billboard in Bnei Brak (Photo: Yisrael Rada)

When asked what the problem was with the modest ad, which featured only text and a logo, Tenenboim said, "Indeed there is nothing in the ad, but from reports we have received, it's an immodest show.

"I don't know if this is true, but someone told me there are even women dressed as mother Eve appearing in the show."

Tenenboim said the municipality had approached the company that posted the ads in a number of different cases in the past asking them to uphold their agreement, but to no avail.

A source from one of the billboard companies said while there is a clause in the company's contract that states the ads must be approved by the local authority, this is not carried out in practice.

The source said such a clause appears in contracts with other local authorities as well, but is nothing more than a 'dead letter'.