BNP Paribas - Israël : boycott ou décision économique?

Jamais le Groupe BNP Paribas n’a marqué la moindre hostilité à l’égard d’Israël. Bien au contraire. Depuis des années la volonté de mettre à égalité l’Etat Hébreu avec les autres pays du Moyen-Orient est ancrée dans les moeurs. La situation financière nouvelle de cette banque qui fait face à une crise majeure l’oblige à prendre des décisions qui peuvent heurter l’interêt de l’Etat Hébreu.

En effet, ce dernier ne veut pas voir une grande banque Européenne ayant une réputation exceptionnelle dans les milieux financiers quitter le pays et créer ainsi un “effet domino” (départ d’autres banques étrangères) sur la place bancaire israélienne.

Selon nos propres sources il semble que cette décision stratégique du groupe bancaire Français soit liée plutôt à une refocalisation de la banque vers des marchés bien plus importants. Notre journal en ligne ayant un devoir de réserve (car nous sommes le site officiel de la Chambre de Commerce France-Israël), nous ne transmettons pas les rumeurs qui agitent les milieux financiers israéliens sur ce dossier très sensible.

ISRAELVALLEY PLUS
Israel presses French bank to reconsider closure (November 25, 2011). (JTA) — Top Israeli banking officials urged a major French bank to reconsider its decision to shut its Israel operation.

Haaretz reported Friday that Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and Banks Supervisor David Zaken have made representations to BNP Paribas because of its decision to close down its operation, leaving only a small representation.

“THE MARKER” DU GROUPE HAARETZ
The bank says the closure it taking place because of hits it has taken in the Greek economic crisis, but Ha’aretz reports that Israeli officials suspect the bank has been susceptible to Arab and anti-Israel pressure. Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, Banks Supervisor David Zaken and their top officials believe the bank’s board of directors caved to pressure groups, contrary to its claims.

This is the first case in years of a foreign bank leaving Israel. BNP Paribas has had operations in Israel since 2003. Most of its business here involved financing large projects that involve French companies.

The bank recently decided to shut down its local offices and dismiss its 60 employees. The bank claims this is because it sustained serious damage from the Greek crisis. Yet the only foreign branch is closing is its Israeli one, even though BNP Paribas has branches all over the world, including in Israel’s neighbor countries.

The French bank is leaving a very limited representation in Israel. It does not need the Bank of Israel’s approval for this, even though its operations are still supervised by the central bank.

Fischer and Zaken held several harsh discussions with BNP Paribas executives, which brought no results, and also denounced the bank’s actions in internal meetings. Fischer reportedly said that one of his goals as Israel’s chief banker was to convince large foreign banks to do business in Israel. There is no reason for BNP Paribas to leave, he reportedly said. The Bank of Israel said it could not comment on a specific bank.

http://www.israelvalley.com/news/2011/12/01/33946/israelvalley-banque-france-israel-les-milieux-d-affaires-israeliens-sont-convaincus-que-bnp-paribas-ferme-ses-portes-pour