Editing Orange Group (section)

===Accusations of antisemitism and calls for boycott===
The French chairman and CEO of the Orange telecommunications company, Stéphane Richard said in Cairo regarding his company operations in Israel, "Believe me, I would cancel the contract tomorrow if I could. We want to end this and to fix this; we don't want it."<ref name="jewishpress.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/orange-exec-pleads-for-bds-compassion-hopes-to-cut-ties-with-israel/2015/06/03/ |title=Orange Exec Pleads for BDS Pity, Hopes to Cut Ties with Israel |date=3 June 2015 |publisher=The Jewish Press |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> Later, Orange announced its desire to discontinue use of its popular brand name by its Israeli operator [[Partner Communications Company]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Telecoms-operator-Orange-says-plans-to-end-Israel-deal-over-brand-licensing-no-mention-of-boycott-405071 |title=Orange confirms it plans to cut ties with Israeli firm, but says move not political |work=Jerusalem Post |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> The president of the [[State of Israel]] [[Reuven Rivlin]] said in response "Just yesterday Israel faced attacks from anti-Israel and anti-Semitic bodies, who have chosen to delegitimise the state of Israel, and to launch rockets at us from the Gaza Strip. We must face these challenges together, right and left," Rivlin said.<ref name="israelnationalnews.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/196307#.VXCLZdKqpBc |title=Netanyahu: French Govt. Partially Owns Orange|date=4 June 2015 |publisher=Israelnationalnews.com |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Keinon |first=Herb |url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-to-France-Renounce-the-miserable-actions-of-Orange-405082 |title=Benjamin Netanyahu to France: Renounce the miserable actions of Orange |work=Jerusalem Post |date=5 June 2015 |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

Israeli culture minister [[Miri Regev]] said, "I call on Jews of France and the world to disconnect from Orange unless Stéphane Richard takes back his words. The time has come for them to understand that Jews in the world and sane voices that oppose anti-Semitism and racism also have power."<ref name="israelnationalnews.com"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/diplomacy-defense/73662-150604-bennett-to-israelis-don-t-punish-orange-franchisee-partner-over-bds-comments |title=Netanyahu calls on French govt to publicly denounce Orange's pullout from Israel |work=I24news.tv |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref> The statement on the company's website announced in response that "The Orange Group is a telecoms operator and as such its primary concern is to defend and promote the value of its brand in markets in which it is present," the statement began. "The Group does not engage in any kind of political debate under any circumstance."<ref name="jewishpress.com"/> Later, Richard visited Israel to clarify his remarks. He met Israeli PM [[Benyamin Netanyahu]] and former president, [[Shimon Peres]]. Richard told both Netanyahu and Peres that Orange has not and will not support anti-Israel boycott efforts, and insisted that its announced decision to abrogate its relationship with Partner was purely commercial and not political.<ref>{{cite web|last=Surkes |first=Sue |url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/orange-ceo-sows-confusion-on-israel-trip-aimed-to-resolve-dispute/ |title=Orange CEO sows confusion on Israel trip aimed to resolve dispute |work=The Times of Israel |access-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

On 30 June 2015, Orange and Partner announced a change to their 10-year licensing agreement. Orange paid Partner €40&nbsp;million to add an opt out clause to the contract,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dvorin |first=Tova |date=2015-06-30 |title=Israeli Co. to Be Paid Millions After Orange Snafu |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/197485 |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[Israel National News]] |language=en}}</ref> with which Partner conducted a market survey which is determine the best course of action moving forward.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2015-06-30 |title=Israeli affiliate to stop using Orange name in 24 months |url=https://www.jta.org/2015/06/30/israel/israeli-affiliate-to-stop-using-orange-name-in-24-months-under-new-deal |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |language=en-US}}</ref> In the first year only Partner can opt out, with either party being able to opt out in the second year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2015 |title=Orange Group and Partner Communications outline new relationship framework agreement |url=https://www.commsupdate.com/articles/2015/06/30/orange-group-and-partner-communications-outline-new-relationship-framework-agreement/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=TeleGeography}}</ref> Regardless of which party opts to exercise the out clause, Orange will pay Partner an additional €50&nbsp;million to end the arrangement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elis |first=Niv |date=1 July 2015 |title=Orange, Partner pave way for cutting ties following BDS controversy |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |url=https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/orange-partner-pave-way-for-cutting-ties-following-bds-controversy-407563 |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> Orange stated that the money paid to Partner was purely for re-branding purposes and affirmed their previous statement that their wish to leave Israel is based on desire to discontinue license agreements and maintain only subsidiaries that they control, rather than a boycott.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 June 2015 |title=Telecom giant Orange to end Israel presence within 2 years |work=[[The Times of Israel]] |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/telecom-giant-orange-to-end-israel-presence-within-2-years/ |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> Orange would make the relevant payments over the course of two years and charge it to their books as a mix of marketing, sales, customer services and related expenses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Niva |date=30 June 2015 |title=Orange Redoes Brand Licensing Agreement With Partner Costs Up To $100 Million If It Leaves Israel |work=[[Jewish Business News]] |url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2015/06/30/orange-rejigs-brand-licensing-agreement-with-partner-at-cost-of-up-to-e90-million-if-leaves-israel/ |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref> As part of the agreement Orange's research and development activities within Israel would transition to the Orange name, but would be restricted from entering the telecommunications services market.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.digitaltveurope.net/390902/orange-strikes-new-deal-with-partner-communications/|title=Orange strikes new deal with Partner Communications}}</ref>

In September 2015, Orange reaffirmed their commitment to Israel with an investment in [[Hola (VPN)|Hola]], a video distribution network.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 September 2015 |title=French telecom firm Orange invests in Israeli start-up |work=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |url=https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/french-telecom-firm-orange-invests-in-israeli-start-up-419093 |access-date=27 December 2023}}</ref>

In February 2016, Orange and Partner decided to terminate their agreement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/1.703843|title=Israel's Partner Rebrands, Cuts Final Ties With Orange|agency=Reuters|date=17 February 2016|work=Haaretz|access-date=2 July 2017}}</ref> As a result, Orange Israel has become part of Partner.