H. Res. 38
In the House of Representatives, U.S., 
November 8, 2005.
Whereas Israel has been trying to join the Organisation for 
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 
2000, when it met the OECD’s membership requirements 
relating to industrial and per-capita product criteria; 
Whereas in March 2005, OECD Secretary-General Donald 
Johnston stated that expanding the OECD’s membership 
to include more countries is vital if the group is to re-
main a forum for discussing global economic policies; 
Whereas in 2004, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and 
then Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sent a joint 
letter to the foreign and finance ministers of the 30 
member countries of the OECD, stating that Israel’s in-
volvement as a non-member country in the OECD’s var-
ious committees is increasing, and that Israel meets the 
economic and institutional criteria required to join the 
OECD; 
Whereas in October 2004, then Israeli Finance Minister 
Binyamin Netanyahu stated that joining the OECD was 
of strategic importance for repositioning Israel’s economy 
from an emerging market to a developed one, adding that 
membership in the OECD would attract foreign invest-
ment;
•HRES 38 EH 
Whereas in August 2004, the Israel Laboratory Accreditation 
Authority was invited to become a full member of the 
OECD Environment Policy Committee, the first com-
mittee that Israel has been invited to join as a full mem-
ber; 
Whereas Israel was asked to take part in the OECD’s Insur-
ance and Commerce Committees; 
Whereas in March 2005, Israel was formally accepted as an 
observer on the OECD’s Financial Statistics Committee, 
allowing experts from the Bank of Israel and Central Bu-
reau of Statistics to participate in the committee’s meet-
ings; 
Whereas the World Bank ranks Israel among the 25 coun-
tries in which it is easiest to do business; 
Whereas Israel’s tax burden, encompassing income and prop-
erty taxes, customs duties, value-added taxes (VAT) and 
national insurance, is much lower than in most OECD 
member countries; 
Whereas membership in the OECD could enhance Israel’s 
status on the global market and within international fi-
nancial institutions, lowering the risk factor on foreign 
loans to Israel; 
Whereas Israel’s economic and technological standing could 
potentially benefit OECD member countries in the 
science and technology, including high-technology, sec-
tors; 
Whereas in 2003, the World Economic Forum ranked Israel 
20th out of 102 countries in its Growth Competitiveness 
Index, and the World Economic Forum’s Technology 
Index ranked Israel 9th, before Canada (11th), Norway
•HRES 38 EH 
(13th), Germany (14th), the United Kingdom (16th), 
and the Netherlands (18th); and 
Whereas Israel is carrying out far reaching economic reforms 
based on the OECD’s recommendations with respect to 
taxes, labor, competition, capital markets, pension funds, 
energy, infrastructures, communications, and transport: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that—
(1) Israel shares the commitment to democratic 
government and the market economy that is the 
foundation of the Organisation for Economic Co-op-
eration and Development (OECD); 
(2) Israel meets the OECD’s membership re-
quirements and has been an active participant as a 
non-member country in various OECD activities, 
such as adherence to the OECD Declaration on 
International Investment and Multinational Enter-
prises; and 
(3) the United States Government should sup-
port and advocate the accession of Israel to the 
OECD, including through coordination of efforts
•HRES 38 EH 
with Mexico, Great Britain, and other countries sup-
portive of Israel’s membership in the OECD. 
Attest:
Clerk.