By ELAINE GANLEY and JOSEF FEDERMAN, Associated Press Writer Elaine Ganley And Josef Federman, Associated Press Writer – 2 hrs 50 mins ago
PARIS – Israel won a rare victory on the international diplomatic stage Monday, gaining acceptance in an exclusive club of prosperous economies after a 16-year effort to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development — and in the face of stiff Palestinian opposition.
The Paris-based OECD said it had invited Israel, as well as Estonia and Slovenia, to become members after they met specific criteria as developed, open economies. Once formally invested as members, the three will swell the ranks of the OECD to 34 members, including the United States, a strong backer of Israel's bid.
The three new members "will contribute to a more plural and open OECD that is playing an increasingly important role in the global economic architecture," OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said in a statement.
Just a few months ago, Gurria had expressed concern about high levels of poverty and unemployment, especially among the minority Arab populations, during a visit to Israel.
However, it did not appear to have hampered membership. On Monday, Gurria said Israel, Estonia and Slovenia had been "receptive to OECD recommendations."
Membership comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cleared the way for the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians last week, following a 17-month break. While the OECD is essentially an economic club, membership could give Netanyahu's government a diplomatic boost.
Gurria told a news conference in Paris that Israeli politics and Mideast tensions were "not the main focus of discussion," but acknowledged, "The entire process of membership is political."
The OECD's legal director, Nicola Bonucci, said Monday that a first of its kind study will be carried out "to quantify the impact" of data included by Israel from the Golan Heights, east Jerusalem and West Bank settlements in its data. Bonucci said that issue "was discussed at length."
The head of Israel's central bank, Stanley Fischer, said membership "is an important step towards Israel's integration into the global economy, and is an expression of Israel's commitment to meet the highest international standards."
Israel views membership as an important stamp of recognition for the country's economic accomplishments and hopes it bolsters Israel's credit rating and paves the way for additional trade.
Netanyahu said Monday's decision culminated contacts dating back to 1994, when Israel sent its first observers to the OECD. Israel formally started the OECD membership process three years ago.
"Today, a new investment avenue has been opened for us," he said, telling reporters that he hopes to make Israel one of the world's top 15 economies over the next decade.
Over the decades, Israel has evolved from a tiny, farming nation into a high-tech powerhouse, known for its numerous start-ups, developments in communications, software and military technology.
Palestinian officials had urged the OECD to reject Israel's application. They said that Israel's occupation of the West Bank, and discriminatory treatment of its own Arab citizens, put the country at odds with the OECD's commitment to human rights.
Mohammed Ishtayah, head of the semiofficial Palestinian development agency PECDAR, called Monday's decision "unfortunate," and said the OECD had prematurely rewarded Israel.
"I think it is a misjudgment on behalf of the organization. I think this will encourage Israel not to go along with the peace process," he said.
Pro-Palestinian activists planned protests in Paris on Monday.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has been pressed to halt Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem — areas claimed by the Palestinians. He has reluctantly slowed settlement activity in recent months, clearing the way last week for the resumption of peace talks. It was not clear whether the OECD decision was any sort of reward for the renewed peace efforts.
Israel has also been under fire for its military conduct during a war in the Gaza Strip early last year, and has recently come under pressure to come clean about its nuclear capabilities.
The U.S. ambassador to the OECD, Karen Kornbluh, called Monday "a truly historic day" for the body, whose activites include compiling statistics and monitoring members' actions in areas from fighting corruption to tax havens and fiscal policy.
She said Israel boosted its candidacy by reforming laws to conform with OECD's anti-bribery rules and boost investor access to the financial services sector. She said Israel also agreed to a peer review by other OECD members of social policies toward minorities.
"The U.S. believes it is crucial for the OECD to engage strategically with the wider world," she said. "We believe that Israel has much to offer the OECD."
The OECD's members must vote unanimously to accept new members. An invitation from the OECD must be approved by a candidate country's parliament before it formally becomes a member.
Russia also is being considered for OECD membership, but Gurria said Russia had been slow in submitting data to back up its bid and that a decision on Russia's membership will take at least another year.
Israel to join OECD...
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Originally Posted by Dr Zoidberg
