Israelis could soon have the opportunity to spy on their neighbours and look around their cities from the comfort of their sofas, following Google’s announcement that it hopes to bring Street View to Israel.

Ministers will decide this week whether to give the internet giant the go-ahead and allow Google cameras to photograph the streets of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and elsewhere in the country.

The proposal has raised questions over whether Street View could pose a risk to Israel’s security, and whether the holy sites in Jerusalem should be captured on camera. Intelligence Minister Dan Meridor is one of the Knesset members involved in the decision.

Google launched Street View in May 2007. Cameras are now installed in 27 countries, although there are none in place elsewhere in the Middle East.