•HRES 1391 IH 
Whereas in May 2006, the OECD adopted in full the Report 
by the Working Party on the Implications of Future En-
largement 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 prop-
erty taxes, customs duties, value-added taxes, and na-
tional insurance, is much lower than in most OECD 
member states; 
Whereas the World Bank ranks Israel among the 30 coun-
tries in which it is easiest to do business, and ranks 
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 Fo-
rum’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; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:01 May 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1391.IH
HR1391
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1391 IH 
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 sec-
tor; 
Whereas Israel is a world leader in science and technology 
and is home to the most high-technology start-up compa-
nies, scientific publications, and research and develop-
ment spending per capita; 
Whereas membership in the OECD will likely strengthen the 
position of Israel in the global economy and within inter-
national financial institutions, solidify Israel’s transition 
from an emerging market to an advanced economy, and 
encourage increased foreign direct investment in Israel; 
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 re-
search and development, and in the science and tech-
nology, 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 Representa-
tives 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; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:01 May 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1391.IH
HR1391
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1391 IH 
Whereas in May 2007, during the annual meeting of the 
OECD’s ministerial council, OECD member states in-
vited 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-
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 accede into membership in the OECD 
during the annual meeting of that organization’s ministe-
rial council on May 27, 2010; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:01 May 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR1391.IH
HR1391
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 1391 IH 
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 
commitment to the principles of democratic govern-
ment 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 ef-
forts by Israel to accede to membership or enhance 
its participation, as the case may be, in international 
forums. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
03:01 May 26, 2010
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR1391.IH
HR1391
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS