"We have removed automatic SMS to French subscribers arriving at Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion airport, announcing: 'Welcome to the Palestine Authority'."

Paris, 2 September 2011

Subscribers of Orange France, arriving at Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion airport over the summer, were outraged to receive an automatic SMS from their telephone provider, stating: "Welcome To The Palestine Authority".

Former Police Commissioner, Sammy Ghozlan, the President of the Wiesenthal Centre's French affiliate, the Bureau National de Vigliance Contre L'Antisemitisme (National Bureau for Vigilance Against Antisemitism - BNVCA) issued an immediate protest. 

Orange-France has now announced the blockage of this SMS and its apology for any offence caused to its clients. 

The Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr Shimon Samuels, has urged Orange International to ensure that this telephonic abuse not recur in other Orange jurisdictions.