Irish figures lead the way against Israel’s entry into OECD

The following letter in the Irish Times, signed by Irish MPs, is a welcome development in a decision that should shun Israel:

On May 11th, 2010, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will vote on whether or not to complete Israel’s application to join its ranks.

Supporting Israel’s ascension to the OECD would be tantamount to supporting its actions in the Occupied Territories.

The Roadmap for the Accession of Israel to the OECD Convention, adopted by the OECD Council in November 2007 stated that Israel has to demonstrate a commitment to pluralist democracy based on the rule of law and the respect of human rights. Israel has proven repeatedly that it simply does not meet this requirement, with laws in place that grant privileges for Jews over non-Jews, who make up 20 per cent of its citizens. Furthermore, according to a leaked OECD report, Israel breached a key requirement of membership by including its colonies in the occupied West Bank in its economic report.

By accepting Israel, the OECD will give official approval to Israel’s illegal occupation and colonisation of Palestinian and Syrian territories. To ignore these facts will see the OECD violating its own foundation principles.

Ireland was one of the six OECD members that voted in support of the recommendations of the Goldstone Report in the United Nations. We must reaffirm our position that Israel, like all other states, is to be held accountable to the standards of international law and human rights.

It only takes one country to vote against accepting Israel in order to block the process. We the undersigned, appeal to the Irish Government to show courage and leadership, and use its vote in order to veto this application until Israel demonstrates real commitment to the fundamental values shared by the OECD member states.

CHRIS ANDREWS TD,

Senator JOE O’TOOLE,

Senator FIDELMA HEALY

EAMES, Senator PHIL

PRENDERGAST, Senator

LABHRÁS Ó MURCHÚ,

Senator MARK DALY,

MAUREEN O’SULLIVAN TD,

JOE COSTELLO TD,

Senator IVOR CALLELY

Senator DAN BOYLE,

DARRAGH O’BRIEN TD,

AENGUS O SNODAIGH TD,

CHARLIE O’CONNOR TD,

JOHN BROWNE TD,

MARTIN FERRIS TD,

TIMMY DOOLEY TD

MATTIE MCGRATH TD,

Leinster House, Dublin 2.