Ads tell Israelis not to marry Americans

NEW YORK (WABC) -- There is outrage over commercials telling Israelis in this country not to marry Americans.

Ads paid for by the Israeli government have outraged some people in the United States and prompted one to demand that the Israeli consulate get involved.

One of the ads shows an American boyfriend finding his Israeli girlfriend staring somberly at her computer.

She is, in fact, according to the internet site she's looking at, privately commemorating Israel's Memorial Day.

The narrator says in Hebrew: "They will always be Israelis but their partners won't understand. Help them return to Israel."

In another ad, Israeli grandparents Skype with their granddaughter and ask, "What holiday is today?"

The little girl says, "Christmas!"

As the grandparents appear crestfallen, the narrator says in Hebrew, "They will always remain Israelis but their children won't. Help them return to Israel."

"I find the ads a little disturbing, insulting, and I think it's going to bother a lot of people," Assemblyman Dov Hikind said.

New York Democratic Assemblyman Dov Hikind represents a sizable Jewish constituency in Brooklyn.

"They want to attract people coming back to Israel, that's fabulous, but don't insult American Jews, don't insult our community," Hikind said.

Watching the ad, some viewers found the message exclusionary and negative.

Others felt more tolerant of the campaign.

Another man said that he understands the disappointment registering on the faces of these Israeli grandparents as their granddaughter gushes over Christmas.

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new york city, israel, advertising, marriage, new york news, jamie roth

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