Action Alert! ~ Please forward widely
April 28, 2010
Dear Friend,
Israel is about to be admitted to an exclusive economic club, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Despite the Government of Israel’s failure to comply with OECD demands and standards, the organization announced in January 2010 that it will “complete” Israel’s membership by 2010 (expected in May). However, the OECD needs consensus to admit a new member state into the organization, so it only takes ONE country’s dissent to stop Israel from joining until it has met international human rights standards. The Israeli Government has yet to comply with the Goldstone Recommendations and until it does, admission to the OECD should be withheld.
We are gathering signatures to be delivered before the OECD Council meeting on May 11, 2010 and then more signatures before the Ministerial meeting on May 28-29.
Please sign the petition and
forward to your friends and colleagues.
The Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC) appeals to peoples and governments of OECD member states to defer Israel’s OECD accession until it respects international law and the human rights of the Palestinian people and shows commitment to the fundamental values shared by OECD members. You can read more about the appeal here.
WHY SHOULD WE STOP ISRAEL?
- Membership in the prestigious OECD club of nations will reward Israel for its war crimes and breaches of international law. Membership is expected to bring financial stability to Israel’s economy, attract investment and reduce the country’s risk premium, in direct contraction with the 2005 BDS call.
- OECD admitted that Israel breached a key requirement of membership by including the settlements in its economic report. By accepting Israel, OECD will give the official approval to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories. “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,” said Israeli economist Shir Hever.
- Only pluralistic democracies can be accepted as OECD members. Israel is an ethnocracy, with about 30 laws specifically privileging Jews over non-Jews who make up 20% of Israel’s citizens. OECD will be violating it’s own foundation principles in this way.
Pressure works! The European Union reversed a decision to upgrade relations with Israel last year following similar concerted action. Send this action alert to your contacts list. Be sure to look for photos here.
Keep up the pressure to lift the siege of Gaza,
GFM Team
[IOA Editor: It is not clear from the statement and instructions whether this petition is restricted to citizens of OECD member states.]
