6 june 2015
CEO of French telecom operator Orange Stephane Richard
The chairman of Orange told AFP on Saturday that he "sincerely" regretted a "controversy" over the French telecoms group's relations with Israel, saying, the Orange Group "is in Israel to stay."
Stephane Richard denied that the company's decision to end its brand-licensing agreement with Partner, Israel's second largest mobile operator, "as soon as possible from a contractual point of view," in any way implied that Orange was seeking to withdraw.
Richard touched off a firestorm of criticism on Wednesday when he told reporters in Cairo he was ready to "withdraw Orange brand from Israel."
"Our intention is to withdraw from Israel. It will take time," but "for sure we will do it," Richard said during an interview with Egyptian newspaper Daily News earlier this week.
Partner, which has a license from the French company to use its brand, has been attacked by rights groups for operating in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank.
At the end of May, five non-governmental organizations and two unions in France asked Orange to state publicly its willingness to sever its ties with Partner and denounce "attacks on human rights" allegedly carried out by the Israeli firm.
Despite this, Richard said at the time it was a purely business decision, not political, that Orange does not license its brand.
The comments touched a raw nerve in Israel, which is growing increasingly concerned about global boycott efforts and the impact on its image abroad.
A furious Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision by Orange, which is part state-owned, as "miserable."
The fresh Franco-Israeli spat comes after a high-profile diplomatic row in December when French lawmakers voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state.
France's top diplomat Fabius also said that Paris and the European Union "have a consistent policy on settlement-building that is known to all."
In addition to drawing criticism from the BDS movement, Partner's servicing of settlements throughout the West Bank also point to larger inequalities between residents in Jewish-only settlements throughout the West Bank and neighboring Palestinian locals.
While Partner's business activities allegedly contributing to the economic viability of illegal settlements, Israeli policies regarding mobile service itself in the occupied West Bank have been criticized by rights groups.
As countries across the Middle East graduate to 4G mobile service, service providers in the West Bank are unable to provide even 3G mobile data due to a refusal by Israel to grant the Palestinian Authority the bandwidth necessary.
As a result, Palestinians are forced to choose between outdated 2G service or buying contracts with Israeli companies servicing settlers illegally residing throughout the West Bank.
Despite rejection by French leadership of the potential break of Orange from Israel's Partner, the BDS movement has gained momentum in France in recent years, with French corporate giant Veolia selling nearly all of its business activity in Israel last month.
The chairman of Orange told AFP on Saturday that he "sincerely" regretted a "controversy" over the French telecoms group's relations with Israel, saying, the Orange Group "is in Israel to stay."
Stephane Richard denied that the company's decision to end its brand-licensing agreement with Partner, Israel's second largest mobile operator, "as soon as possible from a contractual point of view," in any way implied that Orange was seeking to withdraw.
Richard touched off a firestorm of criticism on Wednesday when he told reporters in Cairo he was ready to "withdraw Orange brand from Israel."
"Our intention is to withdraw from Israel. It will take time," but "for sure we will do it," Richard said during an interview with Egyptian newspaper Daily News earlier this week.
Partner, which has a license from the French company to use its brand, has been attacked by rights groups for operating in illegal Jewish-only settlements in the occupied West Bank.
At the end of May, five non-governmental organizations and two unions in France asked Orange to state publicly its willingness to sever its ties with Partner and denounce "attacks on human rights" allegedly carried out by the Israeli firm.
Despite this, Richard said at the time it was a purely business decision, not political, that Orange does not license its brand.
The comments touched a raw nerve in Israel, which is growing increasingly concerned about global boycott efforts and the impact on its image abroad.
A furious Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the decision by Orange, which is part state-owned, as "miserable."
The fresh Franco-Israeli spat comes after a high-profile diplomatic row in December when French lawmakers voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state.
France's top diplomat Fabius also said that Paris and the European Union "have a consistent policy on settlement-building that is known to all."
In addition to drawing criticism from the BDS movement, Partner's servicing of settlements throughout the West Bank also point to larger inequalities between residents in Jewish-only settlements throughout the West Bank and neighboring Palestinian locals.
While Partner's business activities allegedly contributing to the economic viability of illegal settlements, Israeli policies regarding mobile service itself in the occupied West Bank have been criticized by rights groups.
As countries across the Middle East graduate to 4G mobile service, service providers in the West Bank are unable to provide even 3G mobile data due to a refusal by Israel to grant the Palestinian Authority the bandwidth necessary.
As a result, Palestinians are forced to choose between outdated 2G service or buying contracts with Israeli companies servicing settlers illegally residing throughout the West Bank.
Despite rejection by French leadership of the potential break of Orange from Israel's Partner, the BDS movement has gained momentum in France in recent years, with French corporate giant Veolia selling nearly all of its business activity in Israel last month.
Dan Shapiro says America will stand against any decisions or proposals to delegitimise Israel
The US ambassador to Israel said America will continue to oppose any anti-Israel decisions or proposals in international forums. "The United States of America will oppose any decisions or proposals that will boycott or delegitimise the State of Israel," US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told Israeli radio on Thursday.
He added that it will be hard to continue fighting the boycott movement at a time when there are no negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
"Negotiations have been the most effective tool. However, the world does not believe that there will be negotiations any time soon," he said.
Shapiro pointed out that the US has yet to decide how to deal the French initiative at the UN Security Council calling for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
"The decision depends on the draft text," he said. "But we will not recognise a Palestinian state that does not exist." Earlier this week however, US President Barack Obama raised the possibility of allowing UN vote on Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian officials say France is in the process of formulating a draft UN Security Council resolution that sets an 18-month deadline for talks to create a Palestinian state.
The draft will include proposals for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of the two states, and a just and rational solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees.
The roots of the Palestine-Israel conflict date back to 1917, when the British government, through the now-infamous Balfour Declaration, called for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
In 1948, after the expiry of Great Britain's UN mandate in Palestine, a new state, Israel, was declared inside historical Palestine. Israel went on to occupy East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state – a move never recognised by the international community.
Palestinians are still demanding their own independent state.
The US ambassador to Israel said America will continue to oppose any anti-Israel decisions or proposals in international forums. "The United States of America will oppose any decisions or proposals that will boycott or delegitimise the State of Israel," US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro told Israeli radio on Thursday.
He added that it will be hard to continue fighting the boycott movement at a time when there are no negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
"Negotiations have been the most effective tool. However, the world does not believe that there will be negotiations any time soon," he said.
Shapiro pointed out that the US has yet to decide how to deal the French initiative at the UN Security Council calling for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.
"The decision depends on the draft text," he said. "But we will not recognise a Palestinian state that does not exist." Earlier this week however, US President Barack Obama raised the possibility of allowing UN vote on Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian officials say France is in the process of formulating a draft UN Security Council resolution that sets an 18-month deadline for talks to create a Palestinian state.
The draft will include proposals for the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of the two states, and a just and rational solution to the issue of Palestinian refugees.
The roots of the Palestine-Israel conflict date back to 1917, when the British government, through the now-infamous Balfour Declaration, called for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
In 1948, after the expiry of Great Britain's UN mandate in Palestine, a new state, Israel, was declared inside historical Palestine. Israel went on to occupy East Jerusalem and the West Bank during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. It later annexed the holy city in 1980, claiming it as the capital of the self-proclaimed Jewish state – a move never recognised by the international community.
Palestinians are still demanding their own independent state.
President of the leftist opposition Meretz party, MP Zahava Gal-on, is of the view that Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu will sacrifice Israel’s legitimacy in the world with his position on settlements and the occupation.
Gal-on participated in a cultural symposium in Tel Aviv on Saturday and attributed the calls for an international boycott of Israel to its denial of Palestinian rights, calling for Netanyahu to stop burying his head in the sand and be satisfied with what he calls the conflict management with the Palestinians.
Gal-on has a history of dealings with the Palestinian Authority (PA), saying in a meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in 2012 that “the Palestinians were right to turn to the UN to get recognition. They had no other choice.”
She also said during that meeting that she supported a recognition of the Palestinian state before successful negotiations could begin, according to Al-Monitor.
For his part, deputy Yakub Perry, of There is a Future central opposition party, believes that the cause of calls for an international boycott of Israel lies in ‘pure anti-Semitism’.
However, he also critisized Netanyahu, saying that the government is completely paralyzed and does not achieve anything.
Gal-on participated in a cultural symposium in Tel Aviv on Saturday and attributed the calls for an international boycott of Israel to its denial of Palestinian rights, calling for Netanyahu to stop burying his head in the sand and be satisfied with what he calls the conflict management with the Palestinians.
Gal-on has a history of dealings with the Palestinian Authority (PA), saying in a meeting with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in 2012 that “the Palestinians were right to turn to the UN to get recognition. They had no other choice.”
She also said during that meeting that she supported a recognition of the Palestinian state before successful negotiations could begin, according to Al-Monitor.
For his part, deputy Yakub Perry, of There is a Future central opposition party, believes that the cause of calls for an international boycott of Israel lies in ‘pure anti-Semitism’.
However, he also critisized Netanyahu, saying that the government is completely paralyzed and does not achieve anything.
Israeli officials last week launched a war against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which has been gaining ground in recent weeks.
Hebrew, international and Palestinian media sources have this last week been documenting Israel’s concern over growing support for the BDS movement after a series of unions, groups and companies declared their affiliation to the international boycott of Israel.
Israel’s Channel Ten reported that the decision of Orange company, to end its brand licensing deal with the Israeli firm Partner Communication and quit its operations in the country, has ignited a storm of BDS victories. Success stories kicked off this week with Britain’s National Union of Students’ (NUS) successful vote to affiliate themselves with BDS. NUS on Tuesday passed the motion by a vote of 19-14, with one abstention, to boycott Israel and align with the BDS movement, reported the Jerusalem Post.
BDS calls for an international boycott of Israel based on its policies in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. The movement has been gaining ground in recent times, most recently convincing the UK company Boots to stop selling illegally-taken Dead Sea mud.
Channel Ten explained that Israel has already begun to feel the effects of the potential damage to the Israeli economy, and an Israeli official warned that the government had run out of ways to combat the BDS threat.
Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu held a conference in Las Vegas on Friday evening in which he warned participants of the BDS threat to Israel, saying that “we have to fight the delegitimization of Israel. This is a war on our right to live as free people, our right to defend ourselves and our right to determine our future. There is no future for the Jewish people without a Jewish state.”
Hebrew, international and Palestinian media sources have this last week been documenting Israel’s concern over growing support for the BDS movement after a series of unions, groups and companies declared their affiliation to the international boycott of Israel.
Israel’s Channel Ten reported that the decision of Orange company, to end its brand licensing deal with the Israeli firm Partner Communication and quit its operations in the country, has ignited a storm of BDS victories. Success stories kicked off this week with Britain’s National Union of Students’ (NUS) successful vote to affiliate themselves with BDS. NUS on Tuesday passed the motion by a vote of 19-14, with one abstention, to boycott Israel and align with the BDS movement, reported the Jerusalem Post.
BDS calls for an international boycott of Israel based on its policies in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem. The movement has been gaining ground in recent times, most recently convincing the UK company Boots to stop selling illegally-taken Dead Sea mud.
Channel Ten explained that Israel has already begun to feel the effects of the potential damage to the Israeli economy, and an Israeli official warned that the government had run out of ways to combat the BDS threat.
Israeli prime minister Benyamin Netanyahu held a conference in Las Vegas on Friday evening in which he warned participants of the BDS threat to Israel, saying that “we have to fight the delegitimization of Israel. This is a war on our right to live as free people, our right to defend ourselves and our right to determine our future. There is no future for the Jewish people without a Jewish state.”
The executive of French telecommunications company Orange Stephane Richard apologized to Israel’s deputy prime minister on Friday over his remarks made during a conference in Egypt.
French telecom giant Orange would end its relationship with the Israeli operator Partner Communications "tomorrow" if it were possible, but has not yet made the decision due to the "huge risk" of penalties involved, Orange's chief executive officer Stephane Richard said Wednesday.
“Richard apologized for his remarks that he made during a conference in Egypt and told me that he is a friend of Israel,” Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom wrote on his Facebook page.
“He claimed that his comments were not properly understood and that he spoke only about the economic aspect [of his decision],” Shalom wrote.
“He apologized on behalf of himself and the company for the remarks, and he said that they condemn all forms of boycotts,” the deputy prime minister added.
Richard's apologize came few hours after French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that his country opposed any boycott Israel.
French telecom giant Orange would end its relationship with the Israeli operator Partner Communications "tomorrow" if it were possible, but has not yet made the decision due to the "huge risk" of penalties involved, Orange's chief executive officer Stephane Richard said Wednesday.
“Richard apologized for his remarks that he made during a conference in Egypt and told me that he is a friend of Israel,” Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom wrote on his Facebook page.
“He claimed that his comments were not properly understood and that he spoke only about the economic aspect [of his decision],” Shalom wrote.
“He apologized on behalf of himself and the company for the remarks, and he said that they condemn all forms of boycotts,” the deputy prime minister added.
Richard's apologize came few hours after French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that his country opposed any boycott Israel.
5 june 2015
Since Israel's new hard-right coalition government came to power last month, there have been two major bogey men: Iran and BDS, the movement to boycott, divest from and sanction Israel until it complies with basic Palestinian rights. But now, as Ali Abunimah has argued, BDS seems set to overtake Iran as the biggest "threat" to Israel. With Israel's fight against Obama's rapprochement with Iran seemingly lost, it seems this will be "the age of BDS," in the words of one liberal Zionist columnist.
Boycott, divement and sanctions as a formally declared Palestinian movement will be exactly one decade old next month. Broadly speaking, in that time, the trajectory of Israel's attitude has reflected Gandhi's old dictum: first they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. We are currently in the fighting phase, likely to be the most protracted one.
The final ministerial appointment that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to his new cabinet was Gilad Erdan, the number two on the Likud list. He was given responsibility for public security, strategic affairs and public diplomacy. His position was widely touted in the Israeli press as "minister for BDS", after he made clear in a Facebook posting that combating BDS would a major focus of his, along with Iran.
The fact that Israel now takes BDS seriously enough to appoint a minister specifically to combat it speaks volumes about how far the movement has come. And last week, the Israeli president confirmed this in explicit terms, when he termed the academic boycott a "strategic threat of the first order."
As Israel ramps-up its fight against BDS, the increasingly shrill nature of the warnings coming from Jerusalem raise serious concerns about potentially fatal actions Israel could may begin to take against BDS activists (especially Palestinians). If that sounds alarmist, consider the words of new Likud member of parliament Anat Berko. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, and this week formed a lobby in the Knesset specifically to target BDS. In an interview she said that the "BDS movement against Israel is also a weapon. It is a form of terrorism and it should be fought against just like we fight against terrorism."
Implicit in that ludicrous description of the purely non-violent BDS movement as "terrorism" is a threat to assassinate and kidnap leaders of the BDS movement. After all, that is how Israel treats Palestinian resistance fighters – those it terms "terrorists". This designation of BDS as "terrorism" is another proof that when Israel terms Palestinian resistance as terrorism, it is not a serious description, but an opposition to any form of basic Palestinian human rights or existence.
If you thought that such violent rhetoric was confined to the right, think again. Yitzhak Herzog, the head of the "leftist" Israeli Labour Party, and the leader of the opposition in the Knesset, said Wednesday that "the boycott of Israel is a new kind of terrorism" which "should be fought with all the means and all the power available to countries of the world" – very similar language to Berko.
The same day, there was a whole special session of the Knesset held to discuss how to combat BDS. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who called for a complete Palestinian genocide last summer, claimed BDS was "anti-Semitism in a new guise."
In the UK, the national executive of the NUS voted this week to affiliate to the BDS movement, the latest in a series of similar such votes over the last few years. Netanyahu responded in a similarly fanatic fashion, claiming that the NUS was hypocritical because it "had refused to boycott ISIS". Putting aside the ludicrous premise (there are no ISIS academic, cultural or economic links for UK students to boycott), Netanyahu's statement was a typical lie: the NUS has in fact passed policy that condemns ISIS "as a reactionary terrorist organization that carries out atrocities".
To combat all this, we know that Israeli spy agencies are working behind the scenes to disrupt, infiltrate, monitor and sabotage the BDS movement. In November, a former Mossad chief wrote a column about the BDS movement, stating that "we are not using all our force, and this has a detrimental effect on our deterrent power". He seemed to be implying that Israel should do more to use its spy agencies to fight an actual war against BDS. Several months and one election later, that is exactly what many Israeli political leaders are now openly advocating.
Pro-Israel billionaires in the US are not happy with the government's approach to BDS, and one writer in the liberal Zionist paper Haaretz this week criticised Netanyahu for not taking a smart enough approach against the movement.
Democrat party funder and Hollywood mogul Haim Saban, convicted US felon Adam Milstein and casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson are all convening in Las Vegas this weekend to brainstorm new ways to fight BDS. It is expected they will splash lots of cash for projects that take their fancy.
Prepare for a new phase of Israeli dirty tricks, and potentially even violence, against BDS.
An associate editor with The Electronic Intifada, Asa Winstanley is an investigative journalist who lives in London.
Boycott, divement and sanctions as a formally declared Palestinian movement will be exactly one decade old next month. Broadly speaking, in that time, the trajectory of Israel's attitude has reflected Gandhi's old dictum: first they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. We are currently in the fighting phase, likely to be the most protracted one.
The final ministerial appointment that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to his new cabinet was Gilad Erdan, the number two on the Likud list. He was given responsibility for public security, strategic affairs and public diplomacy. His position was widely touted in the Israeli press as "minister for BDS", after he made clear in a Facebook posting that combating BDS would a major focus of his, along with Iran.
The fact that Israel now takes BDS seriously enough to appoint a minister specifically to combat it speaks volumes about how far the movement has come. And last week, the Israeli president confirmed this in explicit terms, when he termed the academic boycott a "strategic threat of the first order."
As Israel ramps-up its fight against BDS, the increasingly shrill nature of the warnings coming from Jerusalem raise serious concerns about potentially fatal actions Israel could may begin to take against BDS activists (especially Palestinians). If that sounds alarmist, consider the words of new Likud member of parliament Anat Berko. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, and this week formed a lobby in the Knesset specifically to target BDS. In an interview she said that the "BDS movement against Israel is also a weapon. It is a form of terrorism and it should be fought against just like we fight against terrorism."
Implicit in that ludicrous description of the purely non-violent BDS movement as "terrorism" is a threat to assassinate and kidnap leaders of the BDS movement. After all, that is how Israel treats Palestinian resistance fighters – those it terms "terrorists". This designation of BDS as "terrorism" is another proof that when Israel terms Palestinian resistance as terrorism, it is not a serious description, but an opposition to any form of basic Palestinian human rights or existence.
If you thought that such violent rhetoric was confined to the right, think again. Yitzhak Herzog, the head of the "leftist" Israeli Labour Party, and the leader of the opposition in the Knesset, said Wednesday that "the boycott of Israel is a new kind of terrorism" which "should be fought with all the means and all the power available to countries of the world" – very similar language to Berko.
The same day, there was a whole special session of the Knesset held to discuss how to combat BDS. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who called for a complete Palestinian genocide last summer, claimed BDS was "anti-Semitism in a new guise."
In the UK, the national executive of the NUS voted this week to affiliate to the BDS movement, the latest in a series of similar such votes over the last few years. Netanyahu responded in a similarly fanatic fashion, claiming that the NUS was hypocritical because it "had refused to boycott ISIS". Putting aside the ludicrous premise (there are no ISIS academic, cultural or economic links for UK students to boycott), Netanyahu's statement was a typical lie: the NUS has in fact passed policy that condemns ISIS "as a reactionary terrorist organization that carries out atrocities".
To combat all this, we know that Israeli spy agencies are working behind the scenes to disrupt, infiltrate, monitor and sabotage the BDS movement. In November, a former Mossad chief wrote a column about the BDS movement, stating that "we are not using all our force, and this has a detrimental effect on our deterrent power". He seemed to be implying that Israel should do more to use its spy agencies to fight an actual war against BDS. Several months and one election later, that is exactly what many Israeli political leaders are now openly advocating.
Pro-Israel billionaires in the US are not happy with the government's approach to BDS, and one writer in the liberal Zionist paper Haaretz this week criticised Netanyahu for not taking a smart enough approach against the movement.
Democrat party funder and Hollywood mogul Haim Saban, convicted US felon Adam Milstein and casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson are all convening in Las Vegas this weekend to brainstorm new ways to fight BDS. It is expected they will splash lots of cash for projects that take their fancy.
Prepare for a new phase of Israeli dirty tricks, and potentially even violence, against BDS.
An associate editor with The Electronic Intifada, Asa Winstanley is an investigative journalist who lives in London.
4 june 2015
Headquarters of Orange in Israel
Telecoms giant denies political motivation as it announces break with Israeli firm after CEO's comments draw official accusations of anti-Semitism.
French telecoms operator Orange said on Thursday it planned to end its brand licensing deal with the Israeli firm Partner Communications, a day after comments by its chief executive drew criticism from the Israeli government.
"In line with its brand policy, Orange does not want to keep its brand presence in countries where it is not an operator. Within this framework, and while strictly respecting existing accords, Orange would like to put an end to this brand licensing," it said in a statement.
Orange denied any political motivation in the decision to cease operations in Israel in a press release. It said the the move is "in conformity with its brand policy." The company added that it "has no reason to take part ... in a debate of a political nature."
Partner has yet to issue a statement in response, but may demand compensation. Parner pays around NIS 15 million a year to Orange for use of the brand.
Orange Chief Executive Stephane Richard said in Cairo on Wednesday he wanted to end the agreement, even though there was a huge risk of financial penalties from doing so, and that the decision was in part due to the firm's relations with Arab countries. Orange said his comments were taken out of context.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Tzippi Hotovely sent a letter to Richard on Thursday asking him to clarify his position and to refrain from "being party to the industry of lies which unfairly targets Israel," the letter sent to Reuters by the embassy read.
Israeli Ambassador to France Yossi Gal called on the French government to condemn Richard's remarks. He also contacted the French Foreign Ministry and Economy Ministry to express the gravity with which Israel views the remarks.
Culture Minister Miri Regev called on French President Francois Hollande to fire Ricahrd.
Regev said Hollande should show "zero tolerance" for what she said was anti-Semitism and urged Jewish customers of Orange around the world to change carriers.
Meanwhile, the new head of Israeli telecommunications company Partner, which is Orange's affiliate in Israel, threatened to sue over Richard's comments.
"Stephane is under intense pressure from pro-Palestinian activists," Partner's incoming CEO Itzik Benvenisti said. "We are very angry about the statement, which indicates that he was under great pressure, and it hurts us. We will consider suing him."
Telecoms giant denies political motivation as it announces break with Israeli firm after CEO's comments draw official accusations of anti-Semitism.
French telecoms operator Orange said on Thursday it planned to end its brand licensing deal with the Israeli firm Partner Communications, a day after comments by its chief executive drew criticism from the Israeli government.
"In line with its brand policy, Orange does not want to keep its brand presence in countries where it is not an operator. Within this framework, and while strictly respecting existing accords, Orange would like to put an end to this brand licensing," it said in a statement.
Orange denied any political motivation in the decision to cease operations in Israel in a press release. It said the the move is "in conformity with its brand policy." The company added that it "has no reason to take part ... in a debate of a political nature."
Partner has yet to issue a statement in response, but may demand compensation. Parner pays around NIS 15 million a year to Orange for use of the brand.
Orange Chief Executive Stephane Richard said in Cairo on Wednesday he wanted to end the agreement, even though there was a huge risk of financial penalties from doing so, and that the decision was in part due to the firm's relations with Arab countries. Orange said his comments were taken out of context.
Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Tzippi Hotovely sent a letter to Richard on Thursday asking him to clarify his position and to refrain from "being party to the industry of lies which unfairly targets Israel," the letter sent to Reuters by the embassy read.
Israeli Ambassador to France Yossi Gal called on the French government to condemn Richard's remarks. He also contacted the French Foreign Ministry and Economy Ministry to express the gravity with which Israel views the remarks.
Culture Minister Miri Regev called on French President Francois Hollande to fire Ricahrd.
Regev said Hollande should show "zero tolerance" for what she said was anti-Semitism and urged Jewish customers of Orange around the world to change carriers.
Meanwhile, the new head of Israeli telecommunications company Partner, which is Orange's affiliate in Israel, threatened to sue over Richard's comments.
"Stephane is under intense pressure from pro-Palestinian activists," Partner's incoming CEO Itzik Benvenisti said. "We are very angry about the statement, which indicates that he was under great pressure, and it hurts us. We will consider suing him."
Orange logo covered by Israeli flag
Israeli affiliate threatens lawsuit as telecoms giant cuts ties; Regev demands Richard's dismissal; employees protest outside Orange HQ, cover logo with Israeli flag.
Israeli leaders voiced their anger on Thursday following telecommunications giant Orange's decision to end its brand licensing deal with the Israeli firm Partner Communication and quit its operations in the country.
"The absurd play in which Israeli democracy defends itself against rocket attacks and terror tunnels and takes automatic condemnation and boycott attempts will not be forgiven," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I call on the French government to publicly renounce the unfortunate remarks and actions of a company partly owned by the French government. At the same time, I call on our closest friends to say out loud that they oppose every kind of boycott against the Jewish state."
"The contract between Orange and Partner was signed a decade ago, said Partner owner Haim Saban. "Orange is a brand and Partner is an Israeli company that has the exclusive right to use the Orange brand in Israel," he explained. "Threats will not dissuade me…
"No CEO of a foreign company will dictate to whom we provide service, where we provide service, and when we provide service in Israel," he continued.
Partner CEO Haim Romano warned that Orange would pay a price if it cancelled the arrangement. "We have not received anything official," he said. "For now we will demand an apology and clarifications of what their CEO said."
Economic Affairs Committee Chairman MK Eitan Cabel called on Partner-Orange subscribers not to rush to cancel their services. "Everyone who is leaving Partner Israel now becomes an involuntary and unwitting tool in the hands of the Israel haters."
"Disturbingly, I have yet to hear condemnations from France's heads of state of the statements by the CEO of France Telecom like those I heard from Britain, and I expect their voices to be heard here in Israel, in Cairo, and the entire world," said President Reuven Rivlin.
Orange denied any political motivation for the decision to cease operations in Israel in a press release. It said the the move is "in conformity with its brand policy." The company added that it "has no reason to take part ... in a debate of a political nature."
Orange Chief Executive Stephane Richard said in Cairo on Wednesday he wanted to end the agreement, even though there was a huge risk of financial penalties from doing so, and that the decision was in part due to the firm's relations with Arab countries.
Israeli Ambassador to France Yossi Gal called on the French government to condemn the remarks.
Gal issued a complaint Thursday to the Elysee Palace over Paris' lack of response to Richard's support for a boycott of Israel. He also contacted the French Foreign Ministry and Economy Ministry to express the gravity with which Israel views the remarks.
The French embassy in Israel has also refrained from publishing a condemnation of Richard's remarks. The French government owns around 25% of the global cellular giant.
In comparison, the British embassy in Israel was quick to officially condemn a decision by the National Union of Students earlier this week to join the boycott movement against Israel.
Speaking Wednesday in Cairo, Richard said that if it were up to him, Orange would terminate its relationship with Partner as soon as possible.
"I am ready to abandon this tomorrow morning but the point is that I want to secure the legal risk for the company," he said. "I want to terminate this, once again, but I don't want to expose Orange to a level of risk and of penalties that could be really sizable for the company."
Meanwhile, the new head of Israeli telecommunications company Partner, which is Orange's affiliate in Israel, threatened Thursday to sue over Richard's comments.
"Stephane is under intense pressure from pro-Palestinian activists," Partner's incoming CEO Itzik Benvenisti said. "We are very angry about the statement, which indicates that he was under great pressure, and it hurts us. We will consider suing him."
The remarks sparked a furious response in Israel. Culture Minister Miri Regev on Thursday called on French President Francois Hollande to fire Ricahrd.
Regev said Hollande should show "zero tolerance" for what she said was anti-Semitism and urged Jewish customers of Orange around the world to change carriers.
Some Israeli users of social networks called for dropping Orange, but Partner was quick to clarify that the Israeli company only uses the Orange brand name.
"We are an Israeli company owned by the Israeli public, owned by Haim Saban, who is active throughout the world on behalf of Israel," Benvenisti said. "This is a national problem, not just ours."
"There are companies in the world that use the Orange brand name and we will continue to use it," said Benvenisti. "In the West there are parties trying to isolate us as a country, and cutting them off is acquiescing to those very parties.
"You saw the reactions of MKs Gilad Erdan and Naftali Bennett. The issue is very acute for our country, we can not afford to be an isolated country. I saw foolish posts against our company, and abandoning Orange means giving in to those pressures. The damage is enormous and we are considering what steps to take."
Meanwhile, Partner employees responded to Richard's comments Thursday by covering the Orange logo with an Israeli flag during a protest outside the French company's local offices in Rosh HaAyin.
At Partner they stressed that the public has not been abandoning Orange. "It is a public company. If there is abandonment we'll report it."
In addition, Partner issued a letter to its employees following the recent events.
"We would like to update you to the effect that a strongly-worded letter to senior figures and the owners of France Telecom France will be sent out today which claims that the Orange brand in Israel was violated and damaged, and in which we will claim our rights.
"We also call on France Telecom's CEO thusly: Suit yourself and pay the hundreds of millions of euros that we invested with great effort over the years. With this payment we will invest in our customers, in building our country and in the citizens of the State of Israel."
Israeli affiliate threatens lawsuit as telecoms giant cuts ties; Regev demands Richard's dismissal; employees protest outside Orange HQ, cover logo with Israeli flag.
Israeli leaders voiced their anger on Thursday following telecommunications giant Orange's decision to end its brand licensing deal with the Israeli firm Partner Communication and quit its operations in the country.
"The absurd play in which Israeli democracy defends itself against rocket attacks and terror tunnels and takes automatic condemnation and boycott attempts will not be forgiven," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I call on the French government to publicly renounce the unfortunate remarks and actions of a company partly owned by the French government. At the same time, I call on our closest friends to say out loud that they oppose every kind of boycott against the Jewish state."
"The contract between Orange and Partner was signed a decade ago, said Partner owner Haim Saban. "Orange is a brand and Partner is an Israeli company that has the exclusive right to use the Orange brand in Israel," he explained. "Threats will not dissuade me…
"No CEO of a foreign company will dictate to whom we provide service, where we provide service, and when we provide service in Israel," he continued.
Partner CEO Haim Romano warned that Orange would pay a price if it cancelled the arrangement. "We have not received anything official," he said. "For now we will demand an apology and clarifications of what their CEO said."
Economic Affairs Committee Chairman MK Eitan Cabel called on Partner-Orange subscribers not to rush to cancel their services. "Everyone who is leaving Partner Israel now becomes an involuntary and unwitting tool in the hands of the Israel haters."
"Disturbingly, I have yet to hear condemnations from France's heads of state of the statements by the CEO of France Telecom like those I heard from Britain, and I expect their voices to be heard here in Israel, in Cairo, and the entire world," said President Reuven Rivlin.
Orange denied any political motivation for the decision to cease operations in Israel in a press release. It said the the move is "in conformity with its brand policy." The company added that it "has no reason to take part ... in a debate of a political nature."
Orange Chief Executive Stephane Richard said in Cairo on Wednesday he wanted to end the agreement, even though there was a huge risk of financial penalties from doing so, and that the decision was in part due to the firm's relations with Arab countries.
Israeli Ambassador to France Yossi Gal called on the French government to condemn the remarks.
Gal issued a complaint Thursday to the Elysee Palace over Paris' lack of response to Richard's support for a boycott of Israel. He also contacted the French Foreign Ministry and Economy Ministry to express the gravity with which Israel views the remarks.
The French embassy in Israel has also refrained from publishing a condemnation of Richard's remarks. The French government owns around 25% of the global cellular giant.
In comparison, the British embassy in Israel was quick to officially condemn a decision by the National Union of Students earlier this week to join the boycott movement against Israel.
Speaking Wednesday in Cairo, Richard said that if it were up to him, Orange would terminate its relationship with Partner as soon as possible.
"I am ready to abandon this tomorrow morning but the point is that I want to secure the legal risk for the company," he said. "I want to terminate this, once again, but I don't want to expose Orange to a level of risk and of penalties that could be really sizable for the company."
Meanwhile, the new head of Israeli telecommunications company Partner, which is Orange's affiliate in Israel, threatened Thursday to sue over Richard's comments.
"Stephane is under intense pressure from pro-Palestinian activists," Partner's incoming CEO Itzik Benvenisti said. "We are very angry about the statement, which indicates that he was under great pressure, and it hurts us. We will consider suing him."
The remarks sparked a furious response in Israel. Culture Minister Miri Regev on Thursday called on French President Francois Hollande to fire Ricahrd.
Regev said Hollande should show "zero tolerance" for what she said was anti-Semitism and urged Jewish customers of Orange around the world to change carriers.
Some Israeli users of social networks called for dropping Orange, but Partner was quick to clarify that the Israeli company only uses the Orange brand name.
"We are an Israeli company owned by the Israeli public, owned by Haim Saban, who is active throughout the world on behalf of Israel," Benvenisti said. "This is a national problem, not just ours."
"There are companies in the world that use the Orange brand name and we will continue to use it," said Benvenisti. "In the West there are parties trying to isolate us as a country, and cutting them off is acquiescing to those very parties.
"You saw the reactions of MKs Gilad Erdan and Naftali Bennett. The issue is very acute for our country, we can not afford to be an isolated country. I saw foolish posts against our company, and abandoning Orange means giving in to those pressures. The damage is enormous and we are considering what steps to take."
Meanwhile, Partner employees responded to Richard's comments Thursday by covering the Orange logo with an Israeli flag during a protest outside the French company's local offices in Rosh HaAyin.
At Partner they stressed that the public has not been abandoning Orange. "It is a public company. If there is abandonment we'll report it."
In addition, Partner issued a letter to its employees following the recent events.
"We would like to update you to the effect that a strongly-worded letter to senior figures and the owners of France Telecom France will be sent out today which claims that the Orange brand in Israel was violated and damaged, and in which we will claim our rights.
"We also call on France Telecom's CEO thusly: Suit yourself and pay the hundreds of millions of euros that we invested with great effort over the years. With this payment we will invest in our customers, in building our country and in the citizens of the State of Israel."
Stéphane Richard, Chief Executive and Chairman of phone network Orange.
The CEO of Israel's Partner Communications Haim Romano, which operates under the Orange brand name responded to remarks by Orange CEO saying that Orange would pay dearly if it went ahead with its plans to withdraw from Israel.
Orange CEO Stephane Richard said on Wednesday that his company would end its contract "tomorrow" with Partner Communications over its activities in Israeli settlements, except in the face of legal and financial penalties.
Partner said in response that it regrets Richard's comments.
"We wish to highlight that Partner Communications is an Israeli company owned by Saban Capital Group, which is owned by Haim Saban and not by France Telecom (Orange). The company has held the Orange brand name since 1998 and the only connection between us and France Telecom is the brand name."
"I am proud to be the controlling shareholder of the Partner company, which is an Israeli owned company that under the Orange brand name. I won't be deterred by threats. I will continue to operate in Israel and lead the international struggle for Israel," Haim Saban said in response.
Israeli politicians hurried to attack Richard. The Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space Danny Danon said that: "it is our duty to fight a daily war in order to maintain Israel's national interests and not to apologise for wanting to preserve the security of our citizens."
Meanwhile, the head of Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid described Richard's remarks as "hypocrisy of the highest level", adding that "the State of Israel is an island of rationality in a difficult neighbourhood in the world and of course we're not ready to receive moral sermons from Europeans. I call on the French government, which controls a large part of Orange shares, to distance itself from his remarks."
Speaking at a news conference in Cairo, Richard said his company intends to withdraw the Orange brand from Israel as soon as possible, but that the move would take time.
"I am ready to abandon this tomorrow morning but the point is that I want to secure the legal risk for the company. I want to terminate this, once again, but I don't want to expose Orange to a level of risk and of penalties that could be really sizeable for the company."
"Sorry to say, but a dispute with Partner when you have zero legal position in Israeli courts is not something that I would recommend for my company. I am not going to pay hundreds of millions of euros only because I would have [to] take a risk, a huge risk, in terms of the penalties that we could have if we entered into this kind of brutal process," he added.
French human rights organisation demanded in a statement issued on 27 May that their government, which owns a quarter share in Orange, to "terminate its contract with Partner Communications Ltd. over its activities in the Israeli settlements."
Partner has also been the target of international protests over its sponsorship of Israeli military units that took part in last year's Gaza war.
Richard pointed out that the contract with Partner Communications was concluded "in the late 1990s before France Telecom bought Orange and is therefore "inherited".
He added that the brand fees from the contract with Partner were too low compared to the size of Orange, saying that "the interest for us is certainly not a financial interest".
The CEO of Israel's Partner Communications Haim Romano, which operates under the Orange brand name responded to remarks by Orange CEO saying that Orange would pay dearly if it went ahead with its plans to withdraw from Israel.
Orange CEO Stephane Richard said on Wednesday that his company would end its contract "tomorrow" with Partner Communications over its activities in Israeli settlements, except in the face of legal and financial penalties.
Partner said in response that it regrets Richard's comments.
"We wish to highlight that Partner Communications is an Israeli company owned by Saban Capital Group, which is owned by Haim Saban and not by France Telecom (Orange). The company has held the Orange brand name since 1998 and the only connection between us and France Telecom is the brand name."
"I am proud to be the controlling shareholder of the Partner company, which is an Israeli owned company that under the Orange brand name. I won't be deterred by threats. I will continue to operate in Israel and lead the international struggle for Israel," Haim Saban said in response.
Israeli politicians hurried to attack Richard. The Israeli Minister of Science, Technology and Space Danny Danon said that: "it is our duty to fight a daily war in order to maintain Israel's national interests and not to apologise for wanting to preserve the security of our citizens."
Meanwhile, the head of Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid described Richard's remarks as "hypocrisy of the highest level", adding that "the State of Israel is an island of rationality in a difficult neighbourhood in the world and of course we're not ready to receive moral sermons from Europeans. I call on the French government, which controls a large part of Orange shares, to distance itself from his remarks."
Speaking at a news conference in Cairo, Richard said his company intends to withdraw the Orange brand from Israel as soon as possible, but that the move would take time.
"I am ready to abandon this tomorrow morning but the point is that I want to secure the legal risk for the company. I want to terminate this, once again, but I don't want to expose Orange to a level of risk and of penalties that could be really sizeable for the company."
"Sorry to say, but a dispute with Partner when you have zero legal position in Israeli courts is not something that I would recommend for my company. I am not going to pay hundreds of millions of euros only because I would have [to] take a risk, a huge risk, in terms of the penalties that we could have if we entered into this kind of brutal process," he added.
French human rights organisation demanded in a statement issued on 27 May that their government, which owns a quarter share in Orange, to "terminate its contract with Partner Communications Ltd. over its activities in the Israeli settlements."
Partner has also been the target of international protests over its sponsorship of Israeli military units that took part in last year's Gaza war.
Richard pointed out that the contract with Partner Communications was concluded "in the late 1990s before France Telecom bought Orange and is therefore "inherited".
He added that the brand fees from the contract with Partner were too low compared to the size of Orange, saying that "the interest for us is certainly not a financial interest".