Why is Google Earth can not show the territories occupied by Israel?

WASHINGTON - Since launching the first time in 2005, the company became the world leader in providing high-resolution satellite imagery. In 2010, Google Earth allows the world to see the extent of damage after the earthquake in Haiti.

This year, Google released the same image after the earthquake and deadly tsunamis that hit Japan. With just one click, google can bring the world and a better understanding to your computer.

However, there is a "country" that can not be shown by Google Earth, namely Israel.

That happened because in 1997, the U.S. Congress passed the Act of the National Defense Authorization, one section titled, "Prohibition of the collection and release of detailed satellite imagery relating to Israel." The amendment, known as Kyl-Bingaman amendment, calling on the federal agency NOAA to manage the spread of the zoom-in image of Israel.

When asked about the rule, a spokesman for Google said, "The pictures in google earth sourced from various sources, both commercial and public. Our sources of satellite imagery company based in the U.S. subject to U.S. law, including the Kyl-Bingaman amendment, which limits the resolution of Israel's image that can be distributed commercially. "

And not just Israel. This rule also applies to the occupied territories. That is why Human Rights Watch was unable to give a detailed picture of the Gaza Strip in a report.

But the impact of this rule may be reduced, after all, the U.S. can only regulate the actions of corporate America. Turkey has recently announced that GokTurk satellite will provide high-resolution image of Israel when it will be operationalized by 2013. Israel of course was not happy with this possibility, an Israeli official told Al Arabiya, "We're trying to make sure that we were not photographed at high resolution and most of the (state) our accommodation." He added: "Should we ask this of Turkey? We will not ask for it. There will be no talks. "