IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 38
Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for 
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 6, 2005
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself, Mr. CROWLEY, and Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of 
Virginia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on International Relations 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organi-
zation for Economic Co-operation and Development 
(OECD).
Whereas Israel has been trying to join the Organization 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 2004, Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and 
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 involvement 
as a non-member country in the OECD’s various commit-
tees is increasing, and that Israel meets the economic 
and institutional criteria required to join the OECD;
•HRES 38 IH 
Whereas in October 2004, Israeli Finance Minister Binyamin 
Netanyahu stated that joining the OECD was of stra-
tegic 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; 
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 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 IH 
(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 Organization 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 
with Mexico, Great Britain, and other countries sup-
portive of Israel’s membership in the OECD.
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