House Resolution Condemning Saudi Boycott of Israel
(April 6, 2006)
In April 2006, yhe U.S. House of Representatives unamiously passed a resolution urging the Bush administration to pressure Saudi Arabia into lifting its boycott of Israel and complying with its World Trade Organization commitments. WTO members are not permitted to boycott another member nation, and Saudi Arabia had repeatedly promised the U.S. that it would comply. However, it hosted the Organization of the Islamic Conference's annual meeting for officers responsible for enforcing the boycott of Israel, thereby violating the WTO rules.
Whereas the United States supported
the accession of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade
Organization (WTO) in 2005; (Engrossed as Agreed
to or Passed by House)
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 370
Whereas the United States supported the accession
of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
in 2005;
Whereas, as part of the working party report for the
accession of Saudia Arabia to the WTO, Saudi Arabia
reiterated its commitment to terminate the secondary
and tertiary boycotts on Israel;
Whereas Saudi Arabia also committed not to discriminate
against any WTO members and specifically did not invoke
the non-application provisions of the WTO Agreement,
and thus has rights and obligations to all WTO members,
including Israel;
Whereas, in spite of these commitments to WTO members
and United States officials, press reports indicate
that an official of the Government of Saudi Arabia
has stated that Saudi Arabia has not committed to ending
the primary boycott on Israel, which would violate
Saudi Arabia's WTO obligations toward Israel;
Whereas United States Trade Representative Portman
has testified to the Committee on Ways and Means of
the House of Representatives that Saudi Arabia's application
of the boycott is a `big concern' of the United States;
that Saudi Arabia did not invoke non-application of
WTO commitments to Israel, so that Saudi Arabia is
required to provide nondiscriminatory treatment to
Israel; and that the United States Trade Representative
has received assurances from Saudi Arabia that it will
abide by its WTO commitments; and
Whereas the Organization of the Islamic Conference
(OIC) scheduled its `Ninth Meeting of the Liaison Officers
of Islamic Regional Officers for the Boycott of Israel'
for the week of March 13, 2006, at the OIC's headquarters
in Saudi Arabia: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress
that--
(1) Saudi Arabia should maintain and fully live up
to its commitments under the World Trade Organization
(WTO) and end all aspects of any boycott on Israel;
and
(2) the President, the United States Trade Representative,
and the Secretary of State--
(A) should continue their active involvement on
this issue by strongly urging the Government
of Saudi Arabia to comply with its WTO obligations;
and
(B) should urge Saudi Arabia to end any boycott
on Israel.
Passed the House of Representatives April 5, 2006.
Sources: Thomas;
JTA |