Steinitz with Gurria
Photo: Sharona Mazlian Levy
Israel confident of joining OECD
Finance minister says chances appear good in 2010, MK Tibi says OECD should reject Israel because it does not treat Arab citizens equally
Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz on Tuesday expressed confidence Israel would join the OECD this year even though certain corruption issues have yet to be resolved.
Working On Membership
Finance minister reports to socio-economic cabinet that fair amount of OECD finance senior officials have pledged to support Israel's membership. Organization's secretary-general due to visit Holy Land in January
"The visit by the secretary general symbolizes the fact that 2010 is a decisive year for our integration. Our chances appear to be good," Steinitz said when asked if international criticism of last year's Gaza offensive could delay Israel's entry into the 30-member organization.
"It is important for us to join the OECD, the most prestigious organization from an economic point of view, but also because of our international status," he said.
But he acknowledged some issues were still outstanding, and that it was possible Israel would join with some "technical issues" still to be resolved on the implementation of anti-corruption measures.
However the move met with opposition. MK Ahmad Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) called on the OECD not to accept Israel as a member during a meeting of Israeli and Palestinian journalists at the Knesset.
Tibi claimed that Israel does not meet the organization's regulations of equality in respect to its treatment of Arab citizens.
Other obstacles include a December report, in which the OECD said Israel "should be more proactive in detecting, investigating and prosecuting foreign bribery cases, notably those involving the defense industry."
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Gurria were to sign on Tuesday an agreement regulating the immunities and rights granted to missions of both parties.
Gurria was also due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, and other top officials during his two-day visit.
Israeli officials expect to join the OECD, which seeks to coordinate economic policies among the world's leading industrialized nations, within months, three years after the start of the membership process in May 2007.
