The French telecommunication company Orange announced on Thursday that they will be withdrawing from the Israeli market, but added that there is no political reason behind it. Orange said their aim is to improve their brand's value in all the markets they operate in and they never wanted to be a party to political discussions. The company further stressed that depending on the current agreements, Orange will be withdrawing its license from the country. French and international nongovernmental organizations have been pressuring Orange to withdraw from the Israeli market in order to protest the politics applied to the West Bank. Orange CEO Stephen Richard announced they will be terminating their partnership with Israeli operator Partner Communications at the press meeting that was held in Egypt on Thursday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to the news was scathing. He said any kind of boycott of Israel should be withdrawn as they are "absurd," and called on the French government to "distance itself publicly from the miserable statement and the miserable action of a company that is partially owned by the government of France."
