Google Street View comes to Israel

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) -- After months of discussions with Israeli security officials, Google has launched its popular Street View service in the country's three largest cities.

Israel had raised concerns that images of its streets could be used by terrorists. But last August, Google said it reached a deal with the government.

Google officials formally unveiled Street View on Sunday, bringing detailed panoramic photos of nearly every house and public institution in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Haifa to the Web.

The pictures offer images of ordinary life, contested areas and religious sites in the Holy Land. Due to security issues, areas around several sensitive sites, such as the military headquarters in Tel Aviv, are blurred.

Israel is the first Middle Eastern country to offer Street View.