Community debate sparked by bus ad calling for end of U.S. military aid to Israel

A bus ad calling for the end of U.S. military aid to Israel returned to Chapel Hill Transit buses this weekend.

The ad, purchased by Chapel Hill’s Church of Reconciliation, was temporarily removed because no contact information was provided for the church — a requirement for town transit ads.

The ad pictures a Palestinian man and an Israeli man, both holding their grandchildren, with a message that reads, “Join with us.
Build peace with justice and equality. End U.S. military aid to Israel.”

Although the ad now complies with town code, debate continues among community members about whether the ad should be allowed to run because of its content.

The ad appeared Aug. 13 on 98 of 121 Chapel Hill Transit buses and was originally scheduled to run for one year.

Rev. Mark Davidson, pastor of the Church of Reconciliation, said he knew about the town’s policy requiring a disclaimer about who purchased the ad, but he was not aware of the requirement to include specific contact information for the purchaser.

“We were glad to comply,” he said.

The church added labels with its website to each ad in order to comply with the code.

Residents have flooded the Chapel Hill Town Council’s email with complaints about the content of the ad, asking for it to be completely removed.

Mike Ross, chairman of Voice for Israel, a local nonprofit that educates the public about issues in Israel, said he doesn’t think buses should display political statements.

He said the ad has caused concern among many people in the Jewish community who find it offensive.

But Davidson said the ad has sparked important conversation about the issue.

“I think disagreement is part of living in a democracy,” he said. “These are public issues of great importance.”

Davidson said he understands this is a sensitive issue among the Jewish community, but the ad is not meant to hurt anyone.

“This is not just a Jewish issue, it’s an American issue,” he said.

Dr. Steve Feldman, a UNC alumnus and Winston-Salem resident who also sent an email to the council, said in an interview that the ad is a wake-up call for people to understand both sides of the problem.

“I think it’s great this bus issue has raised such awareness,” he said.

Chapel Hill Town councilwoman Penny Rich said the question now is whether the council, which will reconvene Sept. 12, will consider amending the policy.

Contact the desk editor at city@dailytarheel.com.