. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/22 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6078) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
ISRAEL 
 
Statement by HE Mr Binyamin Ben Eliezer
 
Minister for Industry, Trade and Labour  
   On behalf of the Government of the State of  Israel, I would like to begin by thanking the 
Director-General of the WTO, Mr Pascal Lamy;  the Chairman of the General Council, 
HE Andrés Velasco, and WTO Secretariat, who have worked hard to organize this Ministerial and 
who are facilitating two important working sessions.  I would also like to thank Switzerland for their warm welcome here in Geneva.   First, allow me to say a few words regarding the current Doha Round of trade negotiations.  
Israel attaches great importance to the curre nt multilateral negotiations mandated by the 
Doha Development Agenda (DDA).  As mentioned here by many distinguished speakers, a prompt 
and successful conclusion of the Round is a necess ity.  Israel wishes to express its gratitude to 
DG Pascal Lamy and the Chairs fo r their efforts in this regard, and looks forward to seeing a 
structured and transparent working programme for continuing the negotiations.  Israel supports the 
goal of reaching a conclusion before the end of 2 010, and believes it is indeed possible with due 
political will throughout the membership and deep  engagement on a multilateral, plurilateral and 
bilateral levels.  Israel is committed to contribut e its part towards the realization of that goal. 
  Israel, being a founding Member of the WTO,  believes that it is the forum for reducing 
obstacles to international trade and levelling the pl aying field as a way to promote a sustainable 
economic growth on a global scale.  It is a unique or ganization which is especially valuable for small 
countries such as Israel.  In this regard, the WTO regular bodies are of extreme importance.  Without 
diminishing the significance of trade negotiations, it is Israel's strong belief that the day-by-day 
administration and monitoring of WTO rules and principles is a fundamental tool to sustain a strong, well-functioning multilateral trading system.  
 One of the topics on this Ministerial Agenda is  the global economic crisis and the role of the 
WTO in this regard.  Even though the economic cr isis has hit hard, we have not witnessed a global 
retreat to high-intensity protectionism.  This might be an indication that lessons from the 
Great Depression were learned, but it is  also evidence to the fact that the WTO system works  and 
that the WTO is indeed relevant.  Israel sees the WTO as the major tool to achieve sustained 
economic growth worldwide.  This Ministerial is indeed a unique opportunity for each and every one 
of us to express this commitment.  This, of course,  does not preclude the need to consider ways to 
strengthen the WTO, even though a careful consider ation is needed to avoid impairing the core 
principles and functioning of this Organization.  WT/MIN(09)/ST/22 
Page 2  
 
   To conclude, Israel remains fully committed to  work constructively with all other Members, 
both with regards to assessing and reflecting on th e WTO and its role in the future, and towards a 
successful and timely conclusion of the DDA.  
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