French telecoms group Orange said its boss Stephane Richard was heading to the Zionist entityThursday for a two-day visit after his plans to review ties with a local firm sparked a boycott row.

French telecoms group Orange said its boss Stephane Richard was heading to the Zionist entityThursday for a two-day visit after his plans to review ties with a local firm sparked a boycott row.

Richard accepted an invitation from Israel to "clarify the misunderstanding" after he said last week in Cairo that Orange was going to withdraw its brand from Tel Aviv.

His comments were seen as a reaction to a report accusing Orange of indirectly supporting settlement activity on occupied territory through its relationship with Israel's Partner Communications.

Israel reacted furiously, accusing him of ‘bowing’ to a Palestinian-led boycott campaign.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign to snub Israeli goods was aimed at the "elimination" of the Zionist entity.

Richard quickly tried to limit the damage, insisting there was no political motivation and telling AFP at the weekend that he "sincerely regrets" the furor.

"It was never the question for a second that Orange would withdraw from Israel," he told French TV station BFMTV.

Partner, Israel's second largest mobile operator which has a license to use the Orange brand, insisted that he travel to the country to explain himself and Richard was quick to accept an invitation from the Israeli government.