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French Company That Once Threatened to Boycott Israel Invests $17 Million in Israeli Startup

Orange, the French telecom giant that earlier this year threatened to end its business ties with Israel, has announced that it is investing in an Israeli startup, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported today.

Hola, a video distribution network for publishers, said Wednesday that it raised $17 million in a funding round led by a strategic partnership between France’s Orange and Publicis Groupe, Reuters reported.

Hola, based in Netanya, has raised a total of $30 million. The company was founded by CEO Ofer Vilenski and its chief technology officer, Derry Shribman, according to Globes.

Orange CEO Stephane Richard said in a June speech in Cairo that he would cut all ties with Israel if he could. A week later, Richard met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and said that Orange would never boycott Israel.

[Photo: euronews (in English) / YouTube ]