As a Metro bus hurdles down 23rd Ave, debris scatters in its wake, and bystanders catch only a fleeting glimpse of the large ad displayed on the side. Usually these bus billboards invoke nothing more than distraction, but one ad campaign has caused heated debate in recent weeks.

On December 27th 2010, the King County Metro Transit System was scheduled to run 12 busses displaying ads that would read “Israeli War Crimes: Your Tax Dollars At Work.” Alongside this proposed caption was a picture showing a Palestinian family standing next to a collapsing building.

Like many, Garfield student Axel Rosencrantz was offended by these ads, and chose to join 780 other members in a Facebook group called “Stop The Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign.”

“The thought of looking at ads on buses that defame the country which embodies my — and so many other people’s — religion is discouraging,” says Rosencrantz.

Thus, in response to the anti-Israeli ad, the Jewish David Horwitz Freedom Center proposed an opposing billboard, replacing “Israeli” with “Palestinian,” accompanied by an image of a burning bus instead of a falling building.

However, Rosencrantz was frustrated by this immaturity.

“It was disappointing to see the retaliation from the Jewish community. As easy as it is to play the blame game, it doesn’t solve any problems,” says Rosencrantz.

Another Seattle group, known as Stop Islamization of America, proposed a second counter ad. This one read, “In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Islamic Jihad.”

In response, North West regional director of the organization StandWithUs called for an end to the entire conflict. “It’s going to antagonize and divide the Seattle community, and it’s destructive.”

In accordance, King County Executive Dow Constantine declined both billboard proposals, which he claimed could jeopardize public safety, peace, and order. Constantine’s  decision, however, generated further debate calling into question the authority of King County Metro System, as well as Metro bylaws.

Metro’s advertising guidelines clearly ban alcohol, tobacco, and pornography, but do not in any way prohibit the material included in the original ad campaign. Metro has had similar problems in the past, including debate over a poster showing a puppet with too much cleavage, a pro-weed advertisement, and an atheist Christmas billboard as well.

At first, Metro agreed to display the anti-Israel advertisement because it didn’t directly violate their laws; however, upon retracting their agreement to display the Seattle Mideast Awareness Campaign Group’s ad, Metro was caught in the crossfire of political debate and religious tensions.

According to Ed Mast, spokesperson for the Seattle Mideast Awareness Group, Metro only decided to retract the ad because of bullying and intimidation from Israel supporters — this, he felt, was unacceptable.

“The King County executive has given in to this campaign of threats and disruption,” says Mast.

Supporters of the ad claim that it was meant to raise awareness about the situation in the Middle East, and that it was not denouncing Judaism. Others complained that refusing to post the ad was infringing on their right to freedom of speech.

The scheduled appearance date for the Israel ad also raised concern because it coincided with the two-year anniversary of Israel’s attack on Palestine. In and itself, this event was controversial.

The Seattle ad debate of recent weeks has received international attention, appearing in the Jerusalem Post as well as the San Francisco Sentinel. Though not always targeting Jews, a pattern of religious advertising has made its way around the world lately.

King County Metro also announced that it would not be accepting non-commercial ads in the foreseeable future.