Google has made a small yet momentous change on their Palestinian site's homepage: google.ps now bears the word, "Palestine," in Arabic and English beneath the multicolored logo.
This replaces its previous location description, "Palestinian Territories."
The omission of the second word signals a significant triumph for Palestine, as the name is a controversial one.
The borders of Palestine and Israel have yet to be agreed, and the two entities show little signs of settling the score.
In November, the United Nations applied "non-member observer state" status to Palestine, much to Israel and ally U.S.' chagrin, reports the BBC.
Before then, Palestine merely possessed. "observer entity" status-the change came after an unsuccessful Palestinian bid to join the UN as a full state, due to little support from the international body's Security Counsel.
Palestinians have sought recognition for years, in efforts to establish themselves under official statehood.
Israel does not employ formal use of the name "Palestine" when referring to any portion of the disputed land.
Nathan Tyler, Google spokesperson, said that the search engine site was following the UN, Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and International Organization for Standardization, all of whom have accepted Palestine as an observer state.
"We're changing the name 'Palestinian Territories' to 'Palestine' across our products," he said in a statement. "We consult a number of sources and authorities when naming countries."
The Palestinian Authority applauded Google's move to change.
"This is a step in the right direction," said advisor to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "A timely step and one that encourages others to join in and give the right definition and name for Palestine."
He also acknowledged the significance of Palestine being put on both a virtual and geographic map.
Google's decision comes one month after President Obama traveled to Israel to speak on American and Israeli relations. Surprisingly, he made public and open comments about the need for independence in Palestine, a topic some American leaders are not too keen to touch upon, given the United States' relationship with Israel.
"Peace is necessary," Obama said amid cheers and applause. "Peace is the only path to true security...the only way for Israel to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable Palestine."
© 2025 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
