A pro-Jewish group is fighting back against a controversial map sponsored by a pro-Palestinian organization advertised at 91原创 transit stations and on buses.
StandWithUs, an international pro-Israel advocacy organization, is launching its own ad campaign this week to counter posters called 鈥淒isappearing Palestine,鈥� which depicts four maps showing a shrinking Palestine replaced by the state of Israel over six decades.
鈥淲e were at the point where we realized they were lies that were being seen by thousands of riders in 91原创,鈥� said Meryle Kates, executive director of StandWithUs鈥� Toronto chapter.
Kates said the pro-Palestinian posters 鈥渄elegitimizes鈥� Israel and the Jewish people 鈥渁nd we felt we had to correct it.鈥�
She said her group would prefer spending its resources elsewhere, but felt forced to respond to the Palestine Awareness Coalition鈥檚 ad campaign, which started in August.
鈥淲e have been in touch with many in the (91原创) community who feel strongly there should be a response,鈥� she told The Province Sunday.
StandWithUs contends it is the Jewish state that has been eroded, and hit back with a poster depicting three Israeli territorial maps.
The first map depicts the 鈥渁ncient Jewish kingdom,鈥� dating back to 1000 BC; the second map shows the Jewish homeland as designated by the League of Nations in 1920; and the third map shows the present-day state of Israel, including disputed territory.
It also has a second poster showing smiling Israeli and 91原创 children waving their national flags.
The posters will be displayed in 10 TransLink stations, including Waterfront, 91原创 City Centre, Yaletown-Roundhouse, and Broadway-Commercial stations, starting Monday until Nov. 14.
Marty Roth, spokesman for the Palestinian Awareness Coalition, called the pro-Jewish group鈥檚 map 鈥渁bsurd.鈥�
鈥淚f you鈥檙e going to stake present-day territorial claims on the Bible, I think you鈥檙e in trouble,鈥� he said Sunday.
He said the first map showing the ancient territory of Israel is an 鈥渋maginary construct.鈥�
鈥淚 have no idea what Biblical texts they鈥檙e getting those dimensions from,鈥� said Roth, a Jewish-91原创.
Roth also disputed the second map, which he said was only a blueprint by the League of Nations.
鈥淚t was to be enacted sometime in the future,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut they cannot say that is Jewish land.鈥�
Roth said their posters had been criticized by Jewish groups as inaccurate and misleading, but said his group stands by its claims.
StandWithUs also stood by its maps. CEO Roz Rothstein said the map showing the ancient Jewish kingdom is based on 鈥渨idely accepted history鈥� and historical sources.
When the PAC unveiled its campaign in August, local Jewish groups pressed TransLink to remove the ads. But TransLink allowed the ads to run, citing legal reasons.
Roth said his group does not plan to lodge a complaint with TransLink about the StandWithUs campaign.
He said his group鈥檚 posters at 91原创 City Centre station has been vandalized and stolen three times, most recently on Oct. 9.
