Israel and four other nations have been invited to open negotiations to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an organization of the world's 30 most developed countries

The organization convened this week, and one item on its agenda is to choose new members. Russia, Chile, Estonia and Slovenia are also considered highly likely to join the organization's ranks.

There is no precedent of the organization rejecting a country once it has been invited to such talks, which means that Israel's eventual acceptance as a member state is almost guaranteed.

	Advertisement

The organization's council, comprised of its members states' foreign ministers, also commenced membership talks with Chile, Estonia, Russia and Slovenia.

The council proposed strengthened co-operation with Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa through enhanced engagement programs. A spokesperson for the council announced that these countries may be offered membership in the future.

The organization's leaders are still considering which conditions should be stipulated in Israel's case. Their deliberations will delay Israel's full membership by one year, or possibly two. The conditions will be brokered through negotiation with Israeli officials.

The OECD was established on the foundations laid by the Marshall Plan, or European Recovery Program, which was an American initiative to rehabilitate Europe after the Second World War.