A representative from Google traveled to Israel this week to discuss the Mountain View–based tech giant’s decision to use “Palestine,” not “Palestinian territories,” on its products, such as Google Maps.
But at a June 19 Knesset committee meeting, the Israelis didn’t get very far in changing the company’s mind.
Last month, Google changed the way it refers to the Palestinian territories, and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Zeev Elkin wrote Google CEO Larry Page urging him to reconsider.
In his letter, Elkin wrote that Google’s move, in effect, recognizes the existence of a Palestinian state. Such a decision is not only mistaken but could impair efforts to restart direct talks with the Palestinian Authority, according to Elkin.
In late May, Andy David, Israel’s S.F.-based consul general, met with Google at their Mountain View headquarters. In an email to j., David said the meeting was conducted “in a very good atmosphere,” and its purpose was “to make clear that the door is always open for discussion of these sensitive issues at any stage, including before making policy changes.”
Click here to read the rest of the story
J. staff contributed to this report