Jerusalem Post Boycott Articles Having Impact in Washington
The Jerusalem Post's recent series of articles on the Arab boycott of Israel is having an impact in Washington. Sunday's Jerusalem Post reported that, following last week's article describing Saudi Arabia's ongoing enforcement of the boycott of Israel, Congressman Mike Ferguson (R-NJ) has called Saudi Arabia's boycott-related policies "unacceptable" and that he has announced that he will raise the boycott issue with senior Bush administration officials.
The Jerusalem Post article quotes Congressman Ferguson as stating that "my colleagues and I raised a number of concerns last year about Saudi Arabia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), including their participation in the Arab boycott of Israel" and "now that the Saudis have joined the WTO . . . "we are finding is that they are not following the rules."
When asked to comment on the Jerusalem Post's article describing how Saudi customs officials advised that Israeli-origin goods are not permitted in Saudi Arabia, a U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) spokesman said that "Saudi officials have affirmed on several occasions, at meetings in Washington and in Riyadh, and in written correspondence, that they understand their WTO commitments and that they will abide by them." In addition, the article quotes a State Department spokesperson as stating that the U.S. has "raised this issue directly with senior Saudi officials on several occasions. In all instances, we have received assurances that Saudi Arabia understands and remains committed to their WTO obligations, including the obligation to treat all WTO members according to WTO rules."
Stay tuned, as evidence mounts that Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia continue to enforce the primary boycott of Israel, despite their promises to Washington.
The Jerusalem Post article quotes Congressman Ferguson as stating that "my colleagues and I raised a number of concerns last year about Saudi Arabia joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), including their participation in the Arab boycott of Israel" and "now that the Saudis have joined the WTO . . . "we are finding is that they are not following the rules."
When asked to comment on the Jerusalem Post's article describing how Saudi customs officials advised that Israeli-origin goods are not permitted in Saudi Arabia, a U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) spokesman said that "Saudi officials have affirmed on several occasions, at meetings in Washington and in Riyadh, and in written correspondence, that they understand their WTO commitments and that they will abide by them." In addition, the article quotes a State Department spokesperson as stating that the U.S. has "raised this issue directly with senior Saudi officials on several occasions. In all instances, we have received assurances that Saudi Arabia understands and remains committed to their WTO obligations, including the obligation to treat all WTO members according to WTO rules."
Stay tuned, as evidence mounts that Bahrain, Iraq, Oman and Saudi Arabia continue to enforce the primary boycott of Israel, despite their promises to Washington.
Labels: Boycotts
|posted by Douglas N. Jacobson| Permalink 
Keep up the good work
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