Orange apologizes to Israel, condemns boycotts

Orange apologizes to Israel, condemns boycotts

by FalastinNews Staff

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.