Google staffers refuse to travel to Israel for court testimony

Google representatives set to appear as defense witnesses in an Israeli trial involving the company have reportedly refused to attend in person due to the “security situation.”

Instead, the two Google employees from the company’s European headquarters in Ireland will testify before Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on December 1 via video conference, Channel 2 television reported Thursday.

“Due to the current security situation in Israel, and specifically in light of the wave of terror, the witnesses have in recent days expressed a tangible fear that prevents them from traveling to Israel at this time,” Google’s lawyers in Israel said in a written request to the court to postpone the proceedings originally scheduled for November 30.

Lawyers for the plaintiff hit back at Google’s request, claiming it stemmed from “prejudice,” the report said.

“There are more stabbing attacks per capita in Ireland and the United States [than in Israel],” attorneys Guy Ofir and Ofer Vadi argued. “It’s just that there they get less coverage. The defendant’s request is based on prejudice, hysteria, and anti-Israel [sentiment].”

Judge Michael Tamir however, disagreed. “I don’t agree with the plaintiff’s claims that the witnesses must travel to Israel at a time when travel warnings have been issued and it goes against their will.”

According to the report, a former Google Israel employee is suing the internet giant for shutting down his program AdSense, a Google tool that allowed web publishers to target advertisements based on users’ website content, their geographical location, and other factors.