During his work in Israel Bodrov took part in the so-called “Orange Deal” (in Russian: Апельсиновая сделка), formally known as Agreement #593 (“On the sale of Soviet state property to Israel”), concluded on October 17, 1964. The agreement was signed on the Israeli side by Foreign Minister Golda Meir and Finance Minister Pinchas Sapir. The agreement was nicknamed so, because Israel agreed to pay not in money (of which it had none), but in oranges from Jaffa and textiles.[5][6]
In March 1963, Mikhail Bodrov wrote to Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Lapin:
Seeking wider ties with our country, the ruling circles of Israel expect to use the expansion of cultural, scientific ties and tourism to strengthen intelligence and subversive activities and conduct Zionist propaganda. In our opinion, it is inexpedient to maintain the tourism of Soviet citizens to Israel and to organize a wide exchange of cultural, scientific and other delegations.
