Campus Clash Over Campaign Poster Sparks Outrage in Jerusalem

Commuters along Jerusalem’s Deganya Street spent several weeks staring at an unlikely sight that blurred the lines between higher education and partisan politics. A massive election poster supporting Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionist Party was prominently displayed on the walls of the Jerusalem College of Technology, specifically at the Machon Tal campus for Orthodox and Haredi female nursing students. Because the advertisement was positioned directly beneath the college’s signage, thousands of passersby were left with the impression that one of Israel’s most respected religious academic institutions had officially endorsed a political candidate.

The situation created a significant stir among those familiar with the legacy of JCT. Founded in 1969 by physicist Professor Ze’ev Lev, the college built its reputation on blending rigorous scientific study with deep religious commitment, producing thousands of engineers and nurses over five decades. The optics were particularly jarring given that Smotrich has been a vocal opponent of drafting Haredi men into military service, while the founders of JCT have long ties to national service and security leadership. This contradiction turned what should have been a routine campaign effort into a source of shock for alumni and staff alike.

College administration quickly moved to distance themselves from the display, insisting that JCT remains strictly nonpolitical. President Professor Avi Domb and Vice President Stuart Hershkowitz expressed their frustration, noting that they had repeatedly asked Oded Ben-David, the owner of the rented Givat Shaul building, to remove or cover the sign to prevent further misunderstanding. However, Ben-David remained defiant for some time, citing his personal support for Smotrich and recalling similar controversies when he flew posters for Benjamin Netanyahu during previous elections.

The dispute eventually escalated beyond internal requests as complaints reached the Jerusalem Municipality and caught the attention of legal advocates from the Academy for a Democratic Israel. While university officials clarified they were not part of any formal legal action taken against Smotrich’s camp, the mounting pressure finally paid off. Last week, someone finally took down the controversial banner, ending a period of tension and restoring a sense of neutrality to the campus facade.