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            French CEO to Visit Israel, Smoothing Over Boycott Talk

   by Henry Ridgwell

   To calm a diplomatic squall, the head of a French-owned mobile phone
   company on Monday said he'll visit Israel, the target of
   pro-Palestinian global boycott campaign to pressure it to allow a
   Palestinian state.

   ''Stephane Richard, chief executive of mobile phone company Orange,
   last Wednesday drew fire when he said his company would pull out of a
   deal with Israeli operator Partner Communications if it had the choice.
   "Believe me, I would cancel the contract tomorrow if I could," Stephane
   Richard said in Cairo on Wednesday, later insisting his comments were
   based on finances, not politics.

   Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin had reacted angrily, inviting Richard
   to Israel to explain himself.

   Over the weekend, both men softened their rhetoric, casting the fray as
   a misunderstanding. And on Monday, [1]according to The Economic Times,
   an Orange company spokesman said Richard would "go to Israel soon and
   ... provide all the necessary clarifications to end this controversy
   and reaffirm the group's commitment."

   Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, visiting Monday in Israel with
   the country's president, Reuven Rivlin, denounced any boycott of
   Israel. "I would like to say how thoroughly we condemn, without
   equivocation, any backing for a boycott aimed at Israel's democracy,"
   Sarkozy said in French while meeting with Rivlin, Reuters reported.

   France has a 25 percent stake in Orange, which Sarkozy did not cite by
   name.

   France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also had intervened in the
   debate, saying Paris does not support a boycott. Fabius said that
   Richard could define Orange's business strategy but that a boycott
   would not be recognized under international law.

   Combatting boycott

   Israel is stepping up its battle against a global movement to boycott
   Israeli businesses that operate in the occupied Palestinian
   territories. Analysts say support for the BDS boycott movement appears
   to have increased after Netanyahu, while seeking re-election in March,
   pledged never to allow a Palestinian state. He has since softened his
   comments.

   The BDS Movement - for boycott, divestment and sanctions - aims to
   financially pressure Israel to end the occupation and settlement of
   land it captured in 1967.

   The movement, which began by 2005, is gaining momentum and has become
   increasingly effective, said Sharif Nashashibi, a London-based Middle
   East analyst and journalist.

   "The Palestinian Authority is taking Israel to the International
   Criminal Court," he said. "As welcome as worldwide recognition is,
   there has to be accompanying pressure on Israel to make that state a
   reality."

   Netanyahu said the Israeli government will oppose against any attempt
   to harm Israel with lies and false accusations and boycotts.

   "We will harness forces in this country and around the world, will
   smash the lies of our enemies and struggle for the right of Israel to
   live in peace and security - to live at all," Netanyahu said at a
   weekly cabinet meeting Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reported.

   Losing patience?

   Israel's international allies have largely criticized the boycott
   movement - but they are losing patience with Netanyahu, said Yossi
   Mekelberg, professor of International Relations at Regents University
   London.

   "I think it's gradually dawning on Israel that there is out there -
   within international organizations, in governments, the European Union,
   even in the United States - a lot [who] think that the Netanyahu
   government is blocking peace through expanding settlements," Mekelberg
   said. "And hence, they think about what can be done in order to enhance
   the chance of a peace agreement."

   They concluded they should economically target Israeli settlements and
   products, such as software, toys, produce, baked goods, tea and
   cosmetics.

   While it's difficult to determine the full economic impact, Israel's
   Maariv newspaper estimated last year that the boycott of Israeli
   settlement products settlements had cost about $30 million.

   U.S. President Barack Obama said earlier this month that, after
   Netanyahu's comments during his March re-election campaign, the
   international community doubts Israel is serious about a two-state
   solution.

   "Then, it becomes more difficult to argue with those who are concerned
   about settlement construction, those who are concerned about the
   current situation," Obama said. "It's more difficult for me to say to
   them, 'Be patient, wait, because we have a process here.'"

   Israel blames Palestinian militants for blocking any peace process.
   Israeli aircraft struck the Gaza Strip Sunday in response to rocket
   fire that hit southern Israel.

   Some information for this report was contributed by Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [2]http://www.voanews.com/content/french-ceo-to-visit-israel-smoothing-
   over-boycott-talk/2812545.html

References

   1. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/orange-ceo-stephane-richard-to-visit-israel-to-clear-up-the-air-over-his-remarks/articleshow/47581805.cms
   2. http://www.voanews.com/content/french-ceo-to-visit-israel-smoothing-over-boycott-talk/2812545.html