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	Special Dispatch |5296|May 8, 2013 Google Recognizes Palestinian State MEMRI | MEMRI TV | JIHAD AND TERRORISM THREAT MONITOR | SOUTH ASIA STUDIES PROJECT
	On May 1, 2013, Google announced that it had decided to change the name of the page atwww.google.ps from "Google – Palestinian Territories" to "Google – Palestine." This step is significant because it constitutes Google's recognition of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a country, following the UN General Assembly resolution in November 2012 to recognize the PA as an observer state. Google spokesman Nathan Tyler said: "We're changing the name 'Palestinian Territories' to 'Palestine' across our products. We consult a number of sources and authorities when naming countries. In this case, we are following the lead of the UN, ICANN [the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers], ISO [International Organization for Standardization] and other international organizations."[1] Before: Google – Palestinian Territories; after: Google – Palestine Before and after, in English[2] Palestinian Communications Minister: Google's Decision Follows Years Of Talks Palestinian Communications Minister Safa Nasser Al-Din said that Google's decision followed extensive years-long talks and deliberations between the PA and Google, and was recently finalized after the UN General Assembly recognized Palestine as an observer state. She said that during a visit by a Google representative to the PA two weeks ago, the possibility of adding additional services was discussed; for example, adding Palestine to Google Maps, to help Palestinians find their way when moving between cities. According to Minister Al-Din, "these maps will include all roads in the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders in accordance with the international resolution." She further mentioned that her office is currently working on preparing the maps together with the Palestinian planning office. Work is being done, she said, to add Palestine to Google Earth so that people can "visit" certain sites in Palestine. The first three sites to be available will be the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Old City in Nablus, and the city of Ramallah; more, she said, will be added later. "This," she said, "will enable the world to know about Palestine and its life in spite of the occupation, and to see its culture and archeological sites..."[3] Google's decision was seen as positive by Palestinian officials and citizens. Palestinian activists on social networks praised the move, called it "another victory for Palestine," and called on other global Internet firms to take similar steps.[4] Official In PA And Fatah: "Another Step In The Right Direction" Sabri Saidam, deputy secretary-general of the Fatah Revolutionary Council and advisor to PA President Mahmoud 'Abbas for telecommunications, information technology, and technical education, also praised the move and said that it was "another step in the right direction, which should be followed by more steps." He said that Google's maps "should include the names of Palestinian areas, and especially those eliminated by settlements or because of the occupation's policy."[5] In an article in the PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Saidam praised Google's move and claimed that it was further evidence that the "bastions of resistance to the recognition of the Palestinian state and identity" have "begun to crumble." Following are excerpts from his article: "Regarding The Land Said To Have No People – It Has Become Clear To The World That There Is [Indeed] A People Rooted In It" "Well, the young people have not forgotten, even if the elderly have died off. And regarding the land said to have had no people – it has become clear to the world that there is [indeed] a people rooted in it, and loyal guardians of its holy sites. And the woman who claimed that there is no Palestinian people [referring to Israeli prime minister Golda Meir] is gone forever. The mighty bastions that stood and argued that Palestine is not on the map and that the Palestinians are not a people have already begun to crumble. "One by one, countries are raising the level of Palestine's diplomatic representation, and one by one, organizations [dealing with] human rights, sports, culture, and society are recognizing Palestine, which belongs to a people whose liberation from the bonds of its jailors has been delayed. Today we see that the [Internet] giant Google places Palestine in its search engine, and has deleted the term 'Palestinian Territories' from its lexicon. Some think that these steps are [merely] symbolic, and some even criticize them for being [merely] formal, and [claim] that we are falling victim to formalities devoid of facts and achievements on the ground. I respect differences of opinion – it is healthy, and the Palestinian people have grown used to it – but the truth facing us is that every day, we are winning the battle of identity, and waiting for the day we win the battle of geography." "We Must Encourage... The Users Of Google, Whom I Expect Number Over A Billion – To Support [Google] By Writing To It, Thanking It, And Reminding It That We Are Waiting [For It] To Change The Maps" "But the desired victory... will never see the light of day if the reconciliation continues to teeter. How ugly would it be for us to win the battle of identity but to lose ourselves. Then we will be approached by amateur foreign politicians who will ask: To whom are we speaking? Fatah or Hamas? Gaza or the West Bank? [Mahmoud] 'Abbas or [Khaled] Mash'al? Today, the battle [is taking place] within our Palestinian soul, which has fought for decades to establish itself, its presence, its readiness, and its abilities... and our war to strengthen our bastion should end now, and in [victory]. "The important thing is that we think about how to preserve the decision by others to recognize us. For example, Google was not spared the flames of the Zionists, who attacked it for its decision and are now pressuring it to reverse it. Therefore, we must encourage our people and friends – the users of Google, whom I expect number over a billion – to support [Google] by writing to it, thanking it, and reminding it that we are waiting [for it] to change the maps in which [Palestinian] villages whose [residents] fled were erased, as well as the villages and towns that stand are adjacent to [Israeli] settlements. [We must] call on [Google] to renew the 3D maps of our sites, cities, and monuments – specifically one [important to] history and tourism – throughout Palestine." "The Collapse Of The Bastions Of Resistance" To The State Of Palestine "Will Hasten The Collapse Of The Occupation" "We must expand the circle of recognition [of a Palestinian state], since the collapse of the bastions of resistance [to this state]... will hasten the collapse of the occupation. This occupation, which is no more than a paper tiger, benefitted from our animosity towards each other, from our schism, and from [our] helplessness. The occupation should end with a clear and definite international resolution. Recognition [of a Palestinian state] is only the first step, not the last. We must not relent or rest after every achievement, or we will lose it..."[6] "Congratulations, the country appears on Google!" (Image: Al-Watan, Saudi Arabia, May 6, 2013) "Google recognizes Palestinian state" (Image: Al-Dustour, Jordan, May 6, 2013) [1] BBC.co.uk, May 3, 2013. [2] BBC.co.uk, May 3, 2013 [3] Al-Quds (Jerusalem), May 2, 2013. [4] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), May 5, 2013; Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Palestinian Authority), May 3, 2013. [5] Al-Sharq Al-Awsat (London), May 5, 2013. [6] Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Palestinian Authority), May 7, 2013.