H. Res. 1391 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

May 28, 2010. 

Whereas Israel first sent an observer delegation to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 

(OECD) in 1994, and first began actively seeking to join 

the OECD in 2000, when it met the OECD’s membership requirements relating to industrial and per-capita 

product criteria; 

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 Israel has been the most active nonmember country 

in the OECD, is a member, observer, or ad hoc observer 

in dozens of working bodies, is party to various OECD 

declarations, and is already in compliance with multiple 

OECD standards; 

Whereas Israel’s tax burden, encompassing income and property taxes, customs duties, value-added taxes, and national insurance, is much lower than in most OECD 

member states; 

Whereas the World Bank ranks Israel among the 30 countries in which it is easiest to do business, and ranks 
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Israel as tied for fourth in ease of getting credit and tied 

for fifth in protection of investors; 

Whereas in 2010, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel 

27th out of 133 countries in its Growth Competitiveness 

Index, and in particular ranked Israel third in quality of 

scientific research institutions, fourth in utility patents, 

fifth in strength of investor protection, fifth in the Forum’s legal rights index, seventh in life expectancy, ninth 

in innovation, 15th in financial market sophistication, 

15th in availability of the latest technologies, and 15th 

in judicial independence; 

Whereas the World Economic Forum ranked Israel 28th out 

of 133 countries in its 2009–2010 Networked Readiness 

Index and 29th out of 121 in its 2009 Enabling Trade 

Index; 

Whereas Israel has carried out far-reaching economic reforms 

in recent years with respect to taxes, labor, competition, 

capital markets, pension funds, energy, infrastructures, 

communications, transport, housing, and other fields, 

growing its private sector and streamlining its public sector; 

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 membership in the OECD will likely strengthen the 

position of Israel in the global economy and within international financial institutions, solidify Israel’s transition 

from an emerging market to an advanced economy, and 

encourage increased foreign direct investment in Israel; 
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Whereas Israel’s accession to membership in the OECD will 

strengthen the OECD because of Israel’s high living 

standards, free and stable markets, and commitment to 

democracy, human rights, and freedom; 

Whereas Israel’s economic and technological standing will 

likely benefit OECD member states in innovation, in research and development, and in the science and technology, including high-technology, sectors; 

Whereas Israel is a strong ally and friend of the United 

States and supports the United States in international 

organizations more consistently than any other country; 

Whereas, on November 8, 2005, the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H. Res. 38, and on May 3, 

2007, the Senate by unanimous consent adopted S. Res. 

188, in support of Israel’s accession to membership in 

the OECD; 

Whereas in May 2007, during the annual meeting of the 

OECD’s ministerial council, OECD member states invited Israel to open talks for accession to membership in 

that organization; 

Whereas the Secretary-General of the OECD, Angel Gurria, 

has supported Israel’s candidacy for accession to OECD 

membership and worked to ensure that Israel’s candidacy 

was not politicized, and was judged by objective economic 

and democratic standards; 

Whereas the United States has supported Israel’s candidacy 

for accession to OECD membership; 

Whereas, on May 10, 2010, the 31 OECD member states 

unanimously agreed to invite Israel to become a member 

of that organization, with the OECD noting in a state-
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ment that ‘‘Israel’s scientific and technological policies 

have produced outstanding outcomes on a world scale.’’; 

Whereas, on May 10, 2010, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin 

Netanyahu noted regarding Israel’s accession to OECD 

membership that ‘‘Israel’s accession to the OECD has 

strategic importance for the process of positioning 

Israel’s economy as a developed and advanced economy, 

as well as in attracting international investments . . . 

There is still work to be done. We have done a great deal. 

We are doing a great deal; and we will do a great deal 

. . . so that we can be on the list of leading countries, 

among the 15 most advanced countries in the world. This 

goal is possible and it won’t take us too many years to 

accomplish.’’; 

Whereas Israel will be welcomed into the OECD during the 

annual meeting of that organization’s ministerial council 

on May 27, 2010, and will fully accede to membership 

once it passes the requisite enacting legislation, a process 

that is likely to be completed within months; and 

Whereas Israel continues to pursue further opportunities to 

accede to membership or enhance its participation, as the 

case may be, in international forums: Now, therefore, be 

it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) congratulates Israel for its accession to membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and 

Development (OECD); 

(2) commends the 31 nations of the OECD, as well 

as OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria, for recognizing Israel’s economic success as well as its commit-
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ment to the principles of democratic government and 

market economy by unanimously electing Israel to 

OECD membership; 

(3) recognizes the importance of the strong role 

played by the United States in Israel’s successful bid for 

accession to membership in the OECD; and 

(4) calls on responsible nations to support efforts by 

Israel to accede to membership or enhance its participation, as the case may be, in international forums. 

Attest: 

Clerk.