Israel gets Google Cloud region

Google now has a new cloud region in Israel.

The tech giant announced Wednesday the opening of a Google Cloud region in Tel Aviv. The Israeli government last year requested Google Cloud provide services to Israeli government ministries, according to a press release. 

What it means: Google Cloud regions offer a variety of advanced cloud computing systems to users, such as data analytics, data loss prevention, network intelligence and debugging. 

Why it matters: Israel is the first country in the Middle East to receive a Cloud region, though Google said that Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Doha, Qatar, will “soon” join the program. 

The Tel Aviv cloud region will add $7.6 billion to Israel’s GDP and create more than 21,000 jobs. Some private companies will be able to use the program as well, such as the payment platform PayBox and the artificial intelligence firm AI21 Labs, according to Google. 

Know more: Some Google engineers have expressed concern about the company’s cloud services possibly being used by the Israeli military to improperly monitor Palestinians in the West Bank, according to a July article in The Intercept. Though Israel disputes this, much of the international community considers the territory to be occupied by Israel.