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Bus company rejects 'extra terrestrial' ads in J'lem
Egged vetoes ad campaign featuring alien figure, cites possible offence to haredi sensitivities; 'We wouldn't consider offending any human, we though aliens answer criteria,' says school behind ad
The Egged bus company refused to place ads on its Jerusalem bus fleet and stations, citing a possible offence to haredim stemming from the image of an extra-terrestrial life-form on the posters.
The ostracized alien is featured in a new ad campaign for a school offering prepatory courses for the SAT exams with the tag-line: "Advanced intelligence was discovered on planet Earth."
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The Kidum school hoped its ads will adorn hundreds of Egged busses in Israel's capital, the same as in other cities in the country, but to its surprise was rejected by Egged, which informed the advertisement company it will not allow the Jerusalem campaign.
The email correspondence between Kidum and Knaan, the company which owns the concession for bus advertisement in Jerusalem, reveals that this refusal is part of the bus company's general Jerusalem policy.
"According to the concession, it is impossible to use figures of any kind in Jerusalem, and therefore the current campaign was not approved by Egged," said the email.
Egged's Spokesperson Ron Ratner said in response: "It's true that Jerusalem is characterized by more sensitivity due to its demographics. We try not to offend public sensitivities even if it occasionally damages the concessionaire economically."
Kidum said on Wednesday in response: "We are careful to respect all sectors in the State of Israel, and wouldn't even consider offending any human.
"To our understanding, the alien answers all the criteria necessary to not offend any sector.
"Apparently not everyone is in agreement."
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