Google gives Palestine a virtual victory on its long path to statehood.<br/> <br />On May 1, the popular search engine removed the word "territories" from its search page, simply referring to the three Palestinian enclaves as Palestine.<br/> <br />Palestinians have welcomed the move, with Sabri Saidem, the advisor to President Mahmoud Abbas, saying the designation gives Palestine a "geographical presence."<br/> <br />Israeli officials were less enthusiastic, and asked why Google was treading in politically controversial waters.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) YIGAL PALMOR, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Google can do anything they want. They can do Google 'Never Never Land' if they want to and that's cool. However, one cannot but wonder why does a private internet company want to get involved in international politics and international diplomacy, which is more, to do that on the controversial side."<br/> <br />Palestinians have been fighting to be recognized as a state by foreign powers
