WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a resolution co-sponsored by Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Clay Shaw and Ranking Member Benjamin L. Cardin calling on Saudi Arabia to end its boycott of Israel.
 
H. Con. Res. 370 also urges President Bush, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to stay actively involved on this issue by strongly urging Saudi Arabia to abide by its World Trade Organization  (WTO) commitments and immediately terminate its boycott of Israel.
 
Prior to its membership to the WTO, Saudi Arabia said it would abide by WTO rules. However, recent statements by Saudi officials have raised questions about Saudi Arabia's commitments to WTO members, particularly Israel.  In addition, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) recently held the Ninth Meeting of the Liaison Officers of Islamic Regional Officers for the Boycott of Israel at the OIC's headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
 
“Saudi Arabia has rights and commitments to all of their fellow WTO members, including Israel,” said Rep. Shaw.  “Upon entering the WTO, Saudi Arabia agreed to provide non-discriminatory treatment to all WTO members. Therefore, I call on Saudi Arabia to live up to its obligations and end this boycott now.”
Rep. Cardin, senior Democrat on the Trade Subcommittee and an original cosponsor of the resolution, said: “International trade must be free and fair. It is essential that as nations join the WTO, they play by the rules. To that end, renunciation of all vestiges of the Israeli boycott is vital to Saudi Arabia participating fully in WTO and international trade community. I trust today's resolution will make that point most clear.”

“AIPAC applauds Chairman Shaw and Ranking Member Cardin for their leadership on this critical issue.  Saudi Arabia must be held to account for its promise to end participation in any aspect of the Arab boycott of Israel," said AIPAC spokesman Josh Block.   "The Arab boycott is an anachronistic practice that has been used to unfairly isolate and stigmatize America's ally Israel.  No country should be participating in the boycott, which undermines American policy in the Middle East, unfairly singles out Israel and lessens the chances for peaceful resolution of the many conflicts in the region."  
 
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