Popular TV game show “Jeopardy!” caused a stir online after ruling a contestant who answered that the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem was in “Palestine” wrong.
Another contestant who then answered Israel was ruled correct.
Here is a video of the exchange.
WATCH:
So @Jeopardy decided it’s the new Skyes-Picot and can just rename countries on a whim. #Palestine #BethlehemIsInPalestine @AmerZahr pic.twitter.com/OY1QkDUebP
— Chris Whitman (@ChrisWhitman11) January 11, 2020
Social media users who believe Katie had the right answer were angered.
Apparently @Jeopardy had a question today on The Church of the Nativity and when the contestant answered “Palestine,” it was deemed incorrect and the next contestant said “Israel” and it was counted as correct. @Jeopardy please explain.
— Deanna ديانا (@deannaothman) January 10, 2020
Omg fuck you @Jeopardy. The Church of the Nativity is in Bethlehem, which is Palestine, NOT Israel. The woman answered Palestine and you ruled her wrong.
— Scott Roth (@scottroth76) January 11, 2020
@Jeopardy you have lost a lifetime viewer. Completely unacceptable that you deny that the Church of the Nativity is in Bethlehem, Palestine and insist that it is in Israel. Thank you Katie for telling the truth.. your look towards Alex was priceless.
— Bassem Nasir (@bassemnasir) January 11, 2020
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We would like to express our disappointment toward @Jeopardy for their blatant disregard for Palestinian sovereignty. As a game show that prides itself on facts, jeopardy failed to state that the Church of the Nativity is located in Bethlehem, Palestine — NOT in Israel. pic.twitter.com/xtp5hyQdJm
— SJP Chicago (@sjpchi) January 11, 2020
Deadline reports Jeopardy! has stirred the controversy pot by telling a contestant she gave the wrong answer on the alleged birthplace of Jesus Christ when she claimed it was in Palestine.
Aljazeera reports that contestant Katie Needle chose a question on the broadcast that aired Friday in the category “Where’s That Church?” The question in the category asked, “Built in the 300s A.D., the Church of the Nativity.”
Needle answered by saying the Church of the Nativity was located in Palestine. She was told by host Alex Trebek that the answer was wrong, and then another contestant answered “Israel,” giving a response that was affirmed.
The Church of the Nativity, a World Heritage Site, is located in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, which Aljazeera claims is internationally recognized as part of Palestine.
However, Palestine is not officially recognized as a state by the United Nations, Israel, the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and most of the European Union.