- Google seems to have a full text search (its google, what did you expect )
- In OSM we should have both version in the way definition saved. Just think of your self if somebody tells you to visit him at Carmel street. You will always have to check in Hebrew or English for “HaCarmel” and “Carmel”. And if you are good you would also write in English “Carmiel”. I’m very sure google saves a table for every street name and all kind of translations and names globally and not street specific. So if you search for Carmel street you will find all streets in Israel. No matter if a translator in Sfar Saba wrote it different on the streetsign than the translator in Eilat.
We should always save both versions (both English and Hebrew):
name:en = HaCarmel
name:en1 = Carmel
I would prefer to reduce the amount of different regional translations. Israel is a small country and every village can use his own translation.
But if we decide on a stricter rule, it would be easier for everybody to find what he searches for. Google has for example a strict translation rule, as iGo has.
This way you will find the street that you searching for if you understand how the rules in OSM are.
I would remove all apostrophes from the translation, no matter if they are written or not on the street sign.
If somebody wants to have it, it should be written as name:en1 etc.