Israel is due to be admitted to the exclusive economic club, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Despite its failure to comply with the demands and standards, the organization in January 2010 announced that the OECD will “complete†Israel’s membership in 2010 (expected to take place in May). However, the OECD needs consensus to admit a new member state into the organization. Turkey is the only Muslim member of the OECD and holds right and responsibility to veto Israelis admission to the OECD. The OECD was founded in 1961. It has 30 member states mostly consisting of EU countries at present it maintains 60 percent of global wealth. Israel has been seeking to join the OECD for 20 years. Due to Israel’s egregious human rights records and belligerent attitude towards Palestinians and neighboring countries, the OECD procrastinated the admission process into the exclusive club. As well as economic prosperity, the OECD has “strict†criteria in terms of democratic and human rights records of member countries. The OECD has recently changed its stance and concluded the process in favor of Israel’s admission. On the 19 January 2010, after signing a key agreement at the Israeli foreign ministry, the OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria stated that: “We are probably going to complete (the membership process) in 2010, that's when it was scheduled for†If the accession goes ahead (expected to take place in May) Israel will internationally obtain credibility, and economic benefits. It is expected that as a result of the accession, Israel's credit rating will be upgraded. Consequently, it will be easier for the Israeli firms to raise funds. The OECD announcement comes amid the dispute regarding the submission of the economic statistics of the Israeli population. The Israeli figures included Israeli settlers and excluded the Palestinian population from the statistics. This undoubtedly contradicted EU policy as these settlements have not been recognized by international law. A leaked report revealed that the OECD requested Israel to either include the Palestinians (and the settlers) in the West Bank or neither of the two parties should be included. According to the same report this issue did not become an obstacle to Israel becoming a member of the OECD. The proposed solution allowed Israel to submit the requested data, one year after joining the OECD. If Israel is granted full membership, it will have power to veto the demands of the OECD, thus will avoid submitting updated figures about the West Bank. Mr. Hever a Quds/Jerusalem based economist pointed out the political legerdemain that the OECD and Israel performed in the accession process: “The OECD is treating Israel as though it has seven million citizens when, in reality, it has 11 million subjects, of whom four million are Palestinians living under occupation, If they were included in the figures submitted to the OECD, Israel would have to be refused accession because of the enormous disparities in wealth.†As it has been affirmed by the BRussell Tribunal (International War Crimes), European law forbids European countries from recognizing the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. However, by granting membership to the OECD, European governments are giving credence to the economically apartheid regime. Also by acknowledging the illegal occupation, they become complicit with Israeli war crimes documented in the Goldstone report. The OECD needs a consensus to admit a new member state into the organization. Turkey as the only Muslim member of the OECD, holds right and responsibility to veto Israelis’ admission to the OECD. Mr. Erdogan has become an outspoken defender of the Palestinians in the international arena resulting in him being targeted by senior Israeli Politicians and the Israeli lobby. This is an opportunity for Mr. Erdogan to show further solidarity with the oppressed Palestinians. It is also a unique opportunity to chastise the arrogance of Israeli politicians who calumniously attack their political opponents for voicing criticism of their heinous crimes against humanity. IHRC
