Backlash is brewing online following an answer and question on Jeopardy! asking contestants to locate the Church of the Nativity.
The last question on the board of one of the rounds of Friday's show was under the category 'Where's That Church?' The answer was "Built in the 300s A.D., the Church of the Nativity."
Contestant Katie Needle was the first to buzz in. She asked, "What is Palestine?" Host Alex Trebek ruled she was incorrect. Contestant Jake McGuire then buzzed in and asked: “What is Israel?” That was deemed the correct response.
The Church of the Nativity is located in Bethlehem in the West Bank. That is considered by many to be in Palestinian territories and occupied by Israel.
The ruling sparked controversy on social media following the airing of the show last week. Many people proclaimed outrage at denying Palestinian sovereignty, while others defended the TV show.
Many people demanded an apology from the show, and Trebek, saying they would no longer watch the show.
Omar Baddar posted a clip on his Twitter account, and thousands of people have retweeted it, with a thousand comments and over 10,000 reactions. Baddar's profile says he is a 'Political analyst on US/Middle East (Israel/Palestine).'
In his tweet, Baddar writes "Unacceptable!! Bethlehem is in the Palestinian territories which Israel illegally occupies (Katie Needle got the correct answer & was robbed). @Jeopardy owes an apology for endorsing Israel's universally-condemned illegal takeover of Palestinian lands."
Unacceptable!! Bethlehem is in the Palestinian territories which Israel illegally occupies (Katie Needle got the correct answer & was robbed). @Jeopardy owes an apology for endorsing Israel's universally-condemned illegal takeover of Palestinian lands.pic.twitter.com/Ym99YziM4k
— Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar) January 11, 2020
Many of the responses have weighed in on both sides of the debate of whether or not Palestine is an independent state.
Unacceptable!! Bethlehem is in the Palestinian territories which Israel illegally occupies (Katie Needle got the correct answer & was robbed). @Jeopardy owes an apology for endorsing Israel's universally-condemned illegal takeover of Palestinian lands.pic.twitter.com/Ym99YziM4k
— Omar Baddar (@OmarBaddar) January 11, 2020
Hey @Jeopardy the Church of Nativity is located in Bethlehem, Palestine. 🇵🇸 Acknowledge and correct the false statement.👏🏼 #whatispalestine #palestine pic.twitter.com/c4lvNWEnLY
— PaliRoots 🇵🇸 (@PaliRootsTees) January 12, 2020
I am a Christian, I live strictly by the Bible, no church. And, I agree with you, all the way. Yes, Israel may occupy the land, but it has always been known to be in Palestine.
— karen lebert (@karenlebert1) January 12, 2020
Dear Omar please set out the precise legal reasoning (with reference to relevant case law and statutes) behind your allegation that it is “illegally occupied”. We will wait. Signed, People who can think for themselves
— ((((RIP Ilan Halimi)))) (@JudenFist) January 11, 2020
The Church of the Nativity is in Israel. Israel existed long before the region was named Palestine by the Romans. The land was also called Canaan, later considered Levant. The area was conquered by the Muslims, circa 634 CE as part of their violent religious expansion.
— Pellegrino (@capramontagna) January 13, 2020
The West Bank is not currently nor has it ever been under the rule of a country named "Palestine".
— A Koalaty Pun (@wombat_koala) January 11, 2020
Palestine has never been recognized as an independent state in the US, where this is filmed.