OECD entrance is 'seal of approval,' Netanyahu says
31 members of the OECD unanimously voted in favor of accepting Israel as a member of the group.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Israel economyPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Monday Israel's entrance into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development saying it was a "seal of approval" which would attract many financial investors.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría, January 20, 2010 |
| Photo by: OECD(c) |
"Joining [the OECD] is like receiving a university degree," Netanyahu said. "Just as it is significant to have a degree from the Technion, for example, when entering the job market, entering [the OECD] will open doors and provide access to many fields. It's a seal of approval."
Earlier Monday, the 31 members of the OECD unanimously voted in favor of accepting Israel as a member of the group, a senior Jerusalem source said.
In a special press conference, Netanyahu discussed the importance of the admittance into the Paris-based international economic group and noted several economic realities in Israel which the government would focus on improving.
"There is still too much centralization in the private business sector," Netanyahu said of Israel's economy, adding that "we intend to act adamantly to diminish this centralization."
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OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem in January. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
Netanyahu added that Israel was in the worst place in the world regarding bureaucracy, and said that "we are in a category of our own when it comes to bureaucratic complications."
"Our goal is to climb to the 15 leading economies in the world for their gross national product," Netanyahu said.
Israeli officials have said acceptance would be an important stamp of approval for the country's economy, boosting its credit rating and strengthening ties with foreign investors.
Three OECD members - Switzerland, Ireland and Norway – had previously expressed reservations about Israel's membership. They have focused on the settlements, which Israel does not treat as a separate economic entity. All new members require the approval of all 31 members.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman welcomed Israel's acceptance into the prestigious economic organization, and said that it was "a stamp of approval for the country's economy and its achievements in technology."
"The resolution was unanimous, despite attempts by anti-Israel entities to prevent the acceptance of Israel into the OECD," Lieberman said in a statement, adding that "the fact that the attempts failed is proof of Israel's solid standing with the international community, and that it is recognized for its achievements, despite the fierce incitement against it in every conceivable arena: political, security or economic."
Foreign Ministry officials earlier said that Palestinians had intensified their efforts to keep Israel out of the organization in recent days, saying that Israel infringes on Palestinians' human rights and violates OECD values.
Israel says Palestinian Prime Minister Salem Fayyad called many of the leaders of OECD countries over the past day to argue against Israel's acceptance. One of the Palestinian arguments is that Israel provided false financial data by not separating out the data related to the settlements.
Israel had launched a campaign of its own to bolster support for its membership. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to several other world leaders on the
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Netanyahu and Lieberman might see acceptance of Israel into the OECD as approval of the the Israeli occupation and settlement enterprise, but if they don't deliver on the promises of establishing a viable Palestinian state, then they might find their membership is just of a temporary nature.
the arabs and their far left, far right, supporters, can howl all they want, but the day belongs to israel, especially since the vote needed to be unanimous. turkey put aside recent hard feelings for this occasion. mexico behaved admirable. thank you mexico, and may your people see better days with calm and posperety.
"the day belongs to israel"
Don't you just wonder what's up with that? And wouldn't it just be sweet, if it's membership ended up being used as a means to apply a bit of coercive leverage? After all, the organization's stipulations and expectations from its member states haven't gone away just because Israel was admitted. LOL - This may prove to be interesting.
So all OECD members caves in to American zionist Money!
So all OECD members caves in to American zionist Money!
so,what do you expect?
The Pals want the OECD seal of approval for Islamist terrorism. Israel's acceptance will be beneficial for 31 countries, even if one country, that does not exist objectsIsrael BTW does not infringe on Pal human rights. the Pals want to dominate the world including the OECD.
Do poor Palestinians have so much money to dominate anything? Do they dominate American´s Foreigin policy and economy as American zionists do? wake up and be honest. Enough is Enough!
One of the things the O.E.C.D. does is to produce statistics in g.d.p., poverty, suicide rates, education, health and so on, to show how member countries compare with each other, and this can show up shortcomings in social structures, which might be difficult for Israel to deal with.
I agree Tony . This is not the blessing many think it is. Israel's internal practices will be open to scrutiny like never before. No amount of hasbara will cover up the inequalities and prejudices that are common practice in Israel
It may open the eyes of Israeli public and leaders to take steps for improvement in the areas that is required. Israel deals with many difficult issues all the time. It has the brainpower and intellect to deal with them.
No amount of anti-Israeli idiocy will ever lend credibility to mindless ravings about, " inequalities and prejudices," which are less in Israel than any other Middle Eastern country.
One of the things the OECD does is to produce statistics in gdp, poverty, suicide rates, education, health and so on, to show how member countries compare with each other, and this can show up shortcomings in social structures, which might be difficult for Israel to deal with.
One of the things the OECD does is to produce statistics in gdp, poverty, suicide rates, education, health and so on, to show how member countries compare with each other, and this can show up shortcomings in social structures, which might be difficult for Israel to deal with.
Congratulations Israel. Despite so much vitriolic comments against you all over the world you manage to achieve progress for your people.
if they only wanted their own state. There could have been peace for 60 years,if thats what they wanted. There could have been borders for 60 years if Arabs had not insisted otherwise.
how can they have their state once israel grabs more and more lands and never give a chance for peace? Peace is not of israeli interest. It wants piece and not peace. Enough is Enough!
""The resolution was unanimous, despite attempts by anti-Israel entities to prevent the acceptance of Israel into the OECD," Lieberman said in a statement, adding that "the fact that the attempts failed is proof of Israel's solid standing with the international community" Personally I don't think the time is right for Israel's accession to the OECD. It needs to get out of the West Bank and free the Palestinians. When it's done that, I would happily support its membership even of the EU, but letting it into the OECD at this point sends the wrong message, as Lieberman has helpfully pointed out.
After all, they simply liberated what had been occupied territory up until June, 1967.
Money & morals have never made good bedfellows certainly not in a capitalist society so why should we allow the morals of a few to affect the decision to allow Israel to join the OECD? Financially Israel is strong enough to join this organization and just because we got a few political problems with our neighbors doesn't mean should be excluded. I do wonder though if the OECD is actually all its cracked up to be considering Greece is a member and they have a lower credit rating right now than Lebanon.
It's nice that you, Mr. PM, intend to address the over-centralization of Israel's economy, and the "beaurocratic complications." But you forgot to address the OECD's leading concern: the economic marginalization, and high poverty level, of Israel's Arab citizens, who make up 20% of the country. Let's not forget them please...
Israel cooked the books by including the West Bank including settlements in it's economic output; some kind soul in OECD has allowed a year to rectify this little oversight, but after a year of membership they can simply veto this order themselves.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed Monday Israel's entrance into the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development saying it was a "seal of approval" Only a person who knows they are under pressure and are not being accepted come out with comment like these. Of all the pm's i think it's safe to say who is the stupidest.
He's one of the smartest people alive, if not the smartest. Not many scored 180 on the IQ test. What's yours? 120 at most, 90 probably, unless you're at Mensa. So, please, don't speak about things you ignore, it'sembarassing for both of us.
Another European organization with website, acronym, logo..... and no impact?! It seems like everyone in Europe wants to be part of some "international" organization, so they keep coming up with new ones every 6 months. And Israel is happy when it gets entry to one of them. So what happened to the Mediterranean Union while we are at it? Egypt and France was joint President, there was big opening ceremony, and then.... phut!
Its not all days bad news... and this was not only economical success... also a diplomactic one! No wonder Israel had no major problems with the nose of the OIS out of this...
I'M PROUD OF YOU ISRAEL, THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ETERNAL LIFE ISRAEL , OMEN
You sold out the Palestinians and for what? 70 silver coins?
Aren't these Palestinian Arabs the children of those who joined Lawrence of Arabia killing the tired Turkish soldiers during their retreat from Yemen? Didn't they riot in Damascus in front of Mustafa Kemal's headquarters against Turks? (Read: Lord Kinross biography of Ataturk)
Congratulations to Israelis truly happy day for two reasons. Israel will advance in all aspects of business on world arena and second reason forces of Islamic extremism hatred and anti-Semitism will suffer painful blow. I feel gooood about this.
Further proof of the exceptionalism of the Israeli state, her economy, and the Jewish people! Mazel Tov!
THAT DOES NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ANY COUNTRY AND DOES NOT DO ANYTHING TO HALT ISRAELS ISOLATION IN THE WORLD
This proves the advancement of the Israeli economy. Even with all the political lobbying Israel is still recognized as an advanced economic nation. No small achievement for a country only 62 yrs old
Anti-Isral entities. Violation of human rights. Marvellous
Greece is a founding member - didn't help their credit rating too much!
running up an inordinate amount of debt did not help Greece. Sad... sad
IS this good for Israel. We now have a new set of rules that we have to do business by. According to OECD rules, any international sale with more than 6% commission will be considered suspect of including bribes to foreign officials. Brazil was also offered membership and declined. The shekel has been a strong currency for several years, with billions of dollars of foreign investment flowing into Israel. Do we need the OECD?
Corruption is indeed a common thing in the Middle East... in Israel at the government level, day in day out.
It was high time Israel became part of the OECD!
That is a great and important step and Israel would be justifiably proud of itself today. Well done and once more congrats to all Israelis.
Israel passed all the tests as a successful country & all that must be a source of pride for the jewish state & a huge slap on the face to all those who blame israel for everything imaginable & not imaginable. Time for the world to give credit to israel for what it has achieved; as a shinning model in the middle east where failure is the norm. Blaming israel for the middle east problems is a lie by those who are mistaking diplomacy with spreading lies. The gulf between the arab countries & israel is widening & the arab hate of israel increasing ! And made israel problems with the arab-islamic world more & more difficult.
It has over 150 UN res condemning it,s human rights abuses. Yeah --sure it is a shining model. Why dont you go live there if you think so much about it. Who needs 5th columners here in Europe.
with its huge amount of debt... a shining beacon of light. should stayed under the thumb of England. the irish cannot balance a budget.
So, if Israel has finally achieved this vaunted economic and political independence, does this mean that my government can quit giving it $3 billion worth of weapons to terrorize the Palestinians with every year, and can quit covering for Israel in the UN every time this "shinning model" decides to massacre a couple thousand more Palestinians or steal some more of their land? Or does "political and economic independence" not include these minor details?
Labhras uses the age-old tactic of accusing his enemies of his own position as 5th columnist for jihadism in Europe. Seems to me the 5th columnist advocating for terrorist jihadis
As soon as our government stops giving billions of dollars of aid to Egypt and Jordan it should stop giving aid to Israel too. CAPICE?
hopefully this news will further boost our economy.
This is
SCREW them. the nincompoops dont get it yet. without israel prosperity they will all starve, best llive from handouts. no need to celebrate - isreal; got whet it deserve: recognition of being an ecconomic success, a credible partner and prudent finacial system.
Not really "news", is it.....??? :)
Actually if Swiss-Dino if you had any idea about the OECD you might say otherwise, or you might be right - depends how you look at it. The OECD have got rid of most of the world's tax havens and are now on a war against bribery and corruption in government and military contracts. Some say that the Europeans and Americans wanted Israel in the OECD to stop them wining all the military contracts that they do.
Actually if Swiss-Dino if you had any idea about the OECD you might say otherwise, or you might be right - depends how you look at it. The OECD have got rid of most of the world's tax havens and are now on a war against bribery and corruption in government and military contracts. Some say that the Europeans and Americans wanted Israel in the OECD to stop them wining all the military contracts that they do.
In the Swiss roll agenda, no news is Bad News, Good news is Bad news and Bad news is to be embraced and celebrated. Sad really.
As a swiss you should know.
Israel reaches and produces some of the most modern and revolutionary advanced medical technology that every country that wants to delivery the best treatment to their citizens are using. Spinal cord injuries who were told they would never walk again because of a severed spinal cord will; MS patients may have a cure; Oh the list goes on and that is just in the medical sciences. chances are if you are on medication it is from or was researched and developed in Israel. Perhaps you should really research the Pal-Israeli issue; everyone accepts the lifes of Palestinians need to be improved - lets us all ask what are the Arba brothers doing to assist the Pals in setting up an infra structure so they have something to even begin a state of their own. Stop placing the blame on the Israeli's; the Pals make good victims - they can do things to help themselves positively so lets not talk about morality. What are you doing besides responding to articles, without a great deal of information behind your statements. Let us hope for the best for the PAls but in doing so do not detract from the great accomplishments of Israel.
I suppose the fact that every time the Palestinian people actually manage to start developing a viable national infrastructure the IDF comes in and reduces it to a pile of rubble is also somehow the Palestinian people's fault. Wait, let me guess: Israel is just defending itself against "terrorism" when it visits collective punishment on the entire Palestinian population of the illegally occupied territories, and would really rather just let the Palestinian people live in peace. If those darn Palestinians would just quiet down and stop making such a fuss about Israel stealing all their land and treating them like animals, everyone could get along just fine, right?
After disengaging from Gaza Israel approved a package from Turkey to develop an industrial infrastructure there. However Hamas never used this great opportunity. Instead used Gaza as a rocket launching pad killing Israeli civilians including the two children Dorit Benisian and Yuval Abebeh.