Mohanraj
Why Google Earth Can't Show You
Israel?
Since
Google launched its Google Earth feature in 2005, the company has
become a worldwide leader in providing high-resolution satellite
imagery. In 2010, Google Earth allowed the world to see the extent of
the destruction in post-earthquake Haiti . This year, Google released
similar images after Japan 's deadly tsunami and earthquake. With just
one click, Google can bring the world—and a better understanding of
far-away events—to your computer.
There is one entire country, however, that Google Earth won't show you: Israel .
That's
because, in 1997, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization
Act, one section of which is titled, "Prohibition on collection and
release of detailed satellite imagery relating to Israel ." The
amendment, known as the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, calls for a federal
agency, the NOAA's Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs, to
regulate the dissemination of zoomed-in images of Israel .
When asked about the regulation, a Google spokeswoman told Mother Jones,
"The images in Google Earth are sourced from a wide range of both
commercial and public sources. We source our satellite imagery from
US-based companies who are subject to US law, including the Kyl-Bingaman
Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 1997, which
limits the resolution of imagery of Israel that may be commercially
distributed."
And
it's not just Israel . The regulation also applies to the occupied
territories. It's why Human Rights Watch can't provide detailed imagery
of the Gaza Strip in its reports. Of course, this regulation cuts both
ways; one also cannot see the destruction in Sderot resulting from
rockets sent out of Gaza .
But,
the impact of the regulation might be dwindling; after all, the US can
only regulate the actions of American corporations. Turkey recently
announced that its GokTurk satellite will provide high-resolution
imagery of Israel when it becomes operational in 2013. Israel is unhappy
with this possibility: An Israeli official told Al-Arabiya, "We
try to ensure that we are not photographed at high resolutions, and most
(countries) accommodate us." The official adds: "Should we request this
of the Turks? We won't ask for it. There is no one to talk to."
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