Hold Israel Accountable

WASHINGTON, DC — Leaders of the Green Party of the United States are urging the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) not to accept Israel’s application for membership until Israel observes international law and alters its human rights policies in its treatment of Palestianians.

“Israel continues to violate the OECD’s fundamental values and should not be rewarded with increased trade — which would access to more military contracts,” said Michael Canney, Florida Green and member of the Green Party’s International Committee (http://www.gp.org/committees/intl).  ”Israel’s intractable, brutal, and humiliating treatment of Palestinians within its own borders and in the Occupied Territories, including the recent invasion and mass killings of civilians in Gaza, deserves international condemnation.  Greens have called for economic boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel until it reverses its current policies.  The OECD should deny Israel membership until the Israeli government lifts the strangling economic restrictions it has placed on the Palestinian people, cancels the construction of settlements and displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and abides by international law and the OECD’s own principles.”

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Communqué de presse

Halte à l’impunité d’israël

Rassemblement Musical Place de la République

Mercredi 26 mai de 19h à 22 heures

Le Collectif National pour une Paix Juste et Durable entre Palestiniens et Israéliens appelle à un Rassemblement Musical Place de la République Mercredi 26 mai de 19h à 22 heures pour protester contre la venue à Paris de B. Netanyhaou, d’A. Lieberman et de 2 autres ministres israéliens.

Il condamne l’entrée d’Israël à l’OCDE, ce qui revient à un blanchiement, par les Etats membres de l’OCDE, de toutes les violations commises par cet Etat.

Mais plus grave encore peut-être, l’OCDE, en définissant un « territoire économique israélien » qui inclut les colonies en territoires occupés  (Palestine, Golan) prend l’extraordinaire responsabilité d’entériner les annexions pures et simples d’Israël.

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Israel does not yet deserve a place in the OECD

GEORGE BISHARAT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2010

Palestinian civil society slams OECD over Israel’s accession

Occupied Palestine – Palestinian civil society represented by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), a wide coalition of the largest Palestinian mass organizations and trade unions, issued a strong condemnation of OECD’s decision today to welcome Israel as a member of the organization at its ministerial meeting to take place on May 27-28. A BNC spokesperson commented, “By accepting Israel, OECD member countries show a blatant complicity with Israeli war crimes, destroying the very foundations of international law. Rewarding Israel entrenches its impunity and dashes any realistic hope for achieving a just peace in the region.”

The OECD’s decision is the culmination of a process that began in 2007 whereby Israel had to pass a number of technical tests and implement reforms to be eligible for accession. According to the “Road Map for the accession of Israel to the OECD Convention”, it was required to demonstrate commitment to the “fundamental values” of the OECD. The BNC had released a paper showing how Israel has consistently breached these requirements, making it ineligible for accession (see: holdisraelaccountable.net/2010/05/05/memo/).  A BNC spokesperson commented: “Officials of OECD member states are perfectly aware that Israel does not comply with any of the objective criteria put forth. Yet, they have decided to single out Israel, elevate it above all these objective criteria, reward it for its defiance of the OECD, not to mention of international law, and make the entire accession process a farce.”

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