Jordanian couple barred from naming baby "Israel"

Several Arabic news sites are reporting that Jordan's Office of Civil Status refused to allow a local couple register their newborn daughter's name as "Israel."

Employees insisted that they would not allow it, but the couple insisted, pointing out that there is no law in Jordan that stops them from naming their child any name they want.

The media calls the father "strange" and guesses that this is probably the first Arab child ever to be named "Israel."

The story seems to be a few weeks old although it just popped up. A Tunisian message board had people asking what is wrong with that name, given that Israel is Jacob which is a fine Arabic name (Yaqoub.)

Apologies in advance for the pun.