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Week Ending May 11, 2006

S.RES.188 A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the accession of Israel to the Convention on the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

<< Click flag for map and country data, Israel

Israel has sought membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development since 2000 and the preamble says it is qualified to be a member.

The OECD is planning on expanding its membership in May 2007 and this resolution supports Israel’s accession to the group.

More resolution below….

Sponsor:  Senator Benjamin Cardin (MD)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent May 3, 2007

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost

Earmark Certification:   Not applicable to this resolution

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MORE INFORMATION

Whereas Israel has met the membership criteria for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and has actively sought membership in the body since 2000;

   Whereas, in May 2006, the OECD adopted in full the Report by the Working Party on the Implications of Future Enlargement on OECD Governance, stating that expanding membership is vital to the organization;

   Whereas the OECD is expected to vote on enlargement and consider new countries for membership at a ministerial meeting in May 2007;

   Whereas Israel is the most active nonmember country in the OECD, is a member, observer, or ad hoc observer in 50 working bodies, is party to various OECD declarations, and is already in compliance with multiple OECD standards;

   Whereas Israel made significant economic reforms in recent years that grew the private sector and streamlined the public sector, and the Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, stated that OECD membership would anchor these reforms and allow additional reforms;

   Whereas membership in the OECD would strengthen the position of Israel in the global economy, solidify Israel's transition from an emerging market to an advanced economy, and encourage increased foreign domestic investment in Israel;

   Whereas the inclusion of Israel in the OECD would strengthen the OECD because of Israel's high living standard, liberal and stable markets, and commitment to democratic values;

   Whereas Israel is a world leader in science and technology and is home to the most high-technology start-up companies, scientific publications, and research and development spending, per capita;

   Whereas, in 2006, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel as the world's 15th most competitive economy;

   Whereas the accession of Israel to the Convention on the OECD would benefit other OECD member countries because of Israel's leadership in high-technology companies and research and development; and

   Whereas Israel is a strong ally of the United States and supports the United States in international organizations more consistently than any other country: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--

    (1) Israel shares the commitment of the United States to, and the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) foundational principles of, good government, free markets, and democratic values;

    (2) Israel meets the OECD membership criteria, and is well deserving of membership;

    (3) it is in the interest of the United States to strongly support the accession of Israel to the Convention on the OECD; and

    (4) the United States should strongly advocate for Israel's accession to the Convention on the OECD before and during the OECD ministerial meeting in May 2007 and use all necessary and available means to secure Israel's membership in the OECD.

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