III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 188 

Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the accession of Israel 

to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and 

Development. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 3, 2007 

Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. COLEMAN, Mr. BIDEN, Mr. SMITH, and Mr. 

BUNNING) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the accession of Israel to the Convention on the Organisation 

for Economic Co-operation and Development. 

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; 


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•SRES 188 ATS 

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 beVerDate Aug 31 2005 21:16 May 04, 2007 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR188.ATS SR188

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•SRES 188 ATS 

cause 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 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that— 

2 (1) Israel shares the commitment of the United 

3 States to, and the Organisation of Economic Co-op4 eration and Development (OECD) foundational prin5 ciples of, good government, free markets, and demo6 cratic values; 

7 (2) Israel meets the OECD membership cri8 teria, and is well deserving of membership; 

9 (3) it is in the interest of the United States to 

10 strongly support the accession of Israel to the Con11 vention on the OECD; and 

12 (4) the United States should strongly advocate 

13 for Israel’s accession to the Convention on the 

14 OECD before and during the OECD ministerial 

15 meeting in May 2007 and use all appropriate means 

16 to secure Israel’s membership in the OECD. 

Æ 


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