House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer, a strong advocate of the U.S.-Israel relationship, issued the following statement regarding H.Res. 38 (Expressing support for the accession of Israel to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)), which passed the U.S. House today. In August, Hoyer led a Congressional delegation of 14 Democrats on a week-long visit to Israel that included presentations on the nation's economy and security challenges:
"This Resolution is a very important statement by the House of Representatives that we support equal treatment for our democratic ally, the State of Israel, which too often has been the target of unequal treatment in international bodies, including the United Nations.
"Israel has been trying to join the OECD since 2000, and it meets the economic and institutional criteria necessary to join this body. The bottom line is, Israeli officials believe that joining the OECD will help Israel attract foreign investment, and could enhance its status as a global market and within international financial institutions.
"I know from personal experience that the Israeli people are enterprising and resilient. And I believe the United States should assist our democratic ally in developing and strengthening its economy through participation in international bodies such as the OECD."