"Welcome to the Palestine Authority" Automatic SMS Message Removed after SWC Protest

September 2, 2011

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTRE-EUROPE
66, rue Laugier
75017 Paris-France
Tel:+33(0)1 47 23 76 37
Fax:+33(0)1 47 20 84 01

Paris, 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.

For further information contact Dr. Shimon Samuels on 0033(0)609770158, join the Center on Facebook, www.facebook.com/simonwiesenthalcenter,  or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent direct to your Twitter page or mobile device.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).