French supermarket giant Carrefour has denied reports that it plans not to open stores in Judea and Samaria due to pressure from anti-Israel elements.
According to reports, shareholders and pro-Palestinian organizations, led by BDS, exerted pressure on the retail company to refrain from the move during a shareholder meeting.
When asked about the company’s plans for Judea and Samaria, one of its top executives reportedly said that there were no plans to expand to settlements.
Carrefour Israel later denied the reports, saying it was “not familiar with such a policy. Carrefour already sells its products across all of Israel.”
It said that “the opening of Carrefour branches will be carried out according to a business plan and not political considerations.”
Carrefour officially opened 50 branches across Israel in May.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the move as “gigantic news.”
“What is good for Europe is good for Israel. Prices will be dropping, they will come down by dozens of percent on hundreds of products, and on thousands in the future,” Netanyahu said during a visit to a new branch on May 8 alongside Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat.
The supermarket chain currently operates around 14,000 branches around the world, and plans to operate as many as 100 branches throughout Israel by the end of the year.
Originally published by Israel Hayom.
