Google formally puts Palestine on virtual map

May 9, 2013

Google has recognized Palestine as an independent nation by changing the name on portal from ‘Palestine Territories’ to ‘Palestine’.
About Palestine
Palestine has been associated with the geographical area that currently covers the State of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The 1974 Arab League summit designated the PLO (Palestine liberation organization) as the “sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people” and reaffirmed “their right to establish an independent state of urgency”.
After the Declaration of Independence in 1988, the UN General Assembly officially “acknowledged” the proclamation and voted to use the designation “Palestine” instead of “Palestine Liberation Organization”. On 29 November 2012, the UN General Assembly passed resolution, upgrading Palestine from an “observer entity” to a “non-member observer state” within the United Nations system, and implicitly recognizing PLO’s sovereignty.
Controversial fact
Israel government disagreed mentioned the following reasons:

State recognition and Internet giant’s new policy will complicate the peace agreement.
Intervention by international company in local disputes does not serve the interest of either party in the long-term and will perpetuate the conflicts.

Other issues taken by Google

During the revolution in Egypt in 2011, the company listed three phone numbers that could be used by protesters to make tweets through voice mails even if internet connections were down.
Criticized China in 2010 for illegal surveillance as the company shut down its Chinese search engine with the reason that it was not possible to keep its services running because in China “self-censorship (was) a non-negotiable legal requirement”.

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