Israel’s foreign ministry has written to Mr Richard demanding he take back the remarks in a dispute that has diplomatic implications because the French state owns 25 per cent of the group’s shares.
In a letter written late on Wednesday, Tzipi Hotovely, deputy foreign minister, expressed “deep concern” about Mr Richard’s comments. “I must admit to have been taken aback by these reports, which do not become a responsible global company such as Orange,” she wrote. “I am confident that these reports do not reflect the intent of your company,” she added. “I appeal to you to refrain from being party to the industry of lies which unfairly targets Israel, and eagerly await your response.” Israel’s Partner Communications Company does business under the Orange brand through a licensing agreement dating back to 1998. The French company has no shares in the Israeli operation, which provides services to 2.7m subscribers and has a 28 per cent market share, and has said it has no influence over its operations. Orange had no immediate comment.
At a press conference in Cairo on Wednesday, Mr Richard said Orange intended to withdraw its brand from Israel as soon as possible but doing so 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,” he said in remarks quoted by the Associated Press. “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.” Orange has faced pressure from campaigners in France to quit the operation in Israel because Partner does business with Jewish settlements on Palestinian lands occupied since the 1967 six-day war, which most of the outside world deems illegal and an obstacle to peace.
Mr Richard also said Orange wanted to quit Israel because its presence there was a “sensitive issue” in other Middle Eastern countries where it does business. “We want to be one of the trustful partners of all Arab countries,” he said.
Israel’s plan to build thousands of settler homes in East Jerusalem is sparking international ire. Yair Lapid, former finance minister and head of the centre-right Yesh Atid party, called on the French government to distance itself from the chief executive’s “irresponsible statements”. “I don’t remember him having a problem making money here and profiting from Israeli citizens,” Mr Lapid said of Mr Richard. “The state of Israel is an island of sanity in this difficult neighbourhood and we certainly won’t accept lessons in morality from someone so self-righteous and detached.”
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has in recent weeks claimed a string of victories as academic and other institutions moved to criticise or cut ties with Israel. Britain’s National Union of Students on Tuesday voted to support the movement.
BDS leaders say their cause has been given new impetus by Mr Netanyahu’s re-election after a campaign in which he disparaged Arabs and said he would not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state. President Netanyahu was in talks late yesterday with US legislators and lobbyists regarding France and a boycott of next year’s Paris Air Show at Le Bourget Airport. Bon chat, bon rat.