Hollande Reassures Netanyahu of France’s Anti-boycott Stance

French President Francois Hollande told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday evening that he categorically opposes boycotts of Israel and expressed the desire to maintain economic ties between the two countries, according to a statement issued by Netanyahu’s office.

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Hollande made the remarks in a phone conversation that followed the storm over comments by Orange CEO Stephane Richard last week about his company’s ties with Israel.

Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution with the Palestinians during the conversation, but expressed opposition to the move by France to pass a resolution on the Israeli-Palestinian issue in the United Nations Security Council, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

“The prime minister expressed his objection to the attempt to impose a settlement on Israel, an effort that will only reduce the chances of an arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians,” according to the statement. “The prime minister stressed that such attempts merely give the Palestinians incentive not to enter into direct negotiations without preconditions.”