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Apple 'beta' update addresses Jerusalem emoji controversy

1 day ago
By Chris Vallance,
Technology reporter, BBC News

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BBC A screen shot of the word Jerusalem typed into a message on an iPhone using the
latest iOS showing the Palestinian flag suggestion beneath.BBC
A screenshot of the flag emoji being suggested
Apple has released a partial update to its iPhone software which stops the
Palestinian flag emoji being suggested when users type the word "Jerusalem".

The issue had sparked controversy, with critics noting the names of other cities do
not prompt flag emojis to appear.

Both Israel and the Palestinians hold competing claims to the ancient city.

Apple previously told the BBC the flag's appearance when Jerusalem was typed had
been inadvertent.

The issue, according to Apple, related to unintended behaviour in a feature called

predictive emoji. iPhones can suggest emojis when words are typed in messages, and
other apps.

Users noticed the flag started being suggested after the company rolled out iOS
17.4.1 - the latest publicly available version of the software on which its mobile
devices run.

Critics such as TV presenter Rachel Riley had demanded Apple explain why the flag
appeared, particularly when other cities do not produce flag emojis when typed.

"Showing double standards with respect to Israel is a form of antisemitism," she

wrote on social media.

Apple's apparent resolution is currently only in the "developer beta" version of

iOS 17.5 released on Tuesday.

The Apple Developer Programme allows programmers building apps to sign up for early
releases of the software - called beta versions - so they can test out apps they
are building on them.

In the new update no emoji is suggested when a user types "Jerusalem", in line with
what happens with other cities.

It's not clear when the update will be released more widely, either as a public
beta, or as an finished update to the general public.

Deep divisions
The status of Jerusalem is one of the thorniest disputes in the conflict between
Israel and the Palestinians.

Israel sees the whole of Jerusalem as its eternal, undivided capital, while
Palestinians claim the eastern part as the capital of their hoped-for future state.

East Jerusalem, along with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, were captured by Israel
from Jordan and Egypt in a war in 1967.

They have since been viewed internationally as occupied Palestinian territory.

There have been increased tensions in the Middle East since the 7 October Hamas
attacks on Israel, in which about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and
more than 250 others were taken hostage.

The subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza has killed 33,729 people, mostly
civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Apple sparks Palestinian flag emoji controversy

Israel & the Palestinians
Emojis
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