Israel & Jerusalem low def.

Hello, 

I've always wondered why Israel and especially Jerusalem, is blurry? None of the towns are high def like MOST major cities around the world. Why is this? It would be really nice to see buildings and sites, clearly and defined, the closer in you scroll in. So just wondering, and is this something that Google will do? Eric

I imagine it's do to with the political nature of the region. And a request not to display high imagery. Although saying that, they do have streetview. Other maybe able to give you a better answer. Or you could ask at the Help forums HERE.

Yes actually the government of Israel has requested that no satellite imagery above a certain resolution be captured. Because of the influence of the United Nations most governments and multinational companies bent-the-knee to Israel and agreed to their demands. The idea is that it is supposed to protect them in a politically unstable climate, I don't personally buy this excuse. There is a lot of stuff they want to hide, military installations, ancient artwork and architecture, and their expanse into the west bank etc.

Opinion time:

The fact that google agrees to any foreign governments demands is literally disgusting. Google is an American company, they are supposed to hold the same values that Americans hold in high regard. values like honesty, trust, openness and transparency, and most of all the idea that the public has a right to know. The idea that an American company service (google earth/other google services) will change based on what a foreign governments wants is dangerous and needs to be crushed before it is allowed to literally manipulate peoples view of the world itself.

google is afraid of loosing business of course, they will do whatever a foreign government wants out of fear they will loose money. But is this really the case? google after all does receive government subsidy's and is already the most influential company in America, is money really their goal? or is it political control over citizens? long story short google is a government, and they decide what you see and what you dont.