U.S. Billionaires Adelson, Saban Vow to Fight Boycotts of Israel

U.S. billionaires Sheldon Adelson and Haim Saban pledged to fight economic boycotts against Israel amid heightened concern over the threat of international sanctions directed against its policy toward the Palestinians.

The issue gained new prominence after Stephane Richard, chief executive officer of Orange SA, said on Wednesday that the Paris-based telecom company would end its licensing deal with Israel’s Partner Communications Co. “tomorrow” if he wasn’t concerned about legal repercussions. Richard later apologized for his comments, made in response to a question over a threatened boycott of Orange’s Egyptian subsidy, Mobinil, and said they weren’t motivated by political concerns.