Date of Entry: February 2, 1972
National Day: May 14
Type of Government: Parliamentary democracy
Head of State: President Shimon Peres (July 15, 2007)
Head of Government: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (since 31 March 2009)
Permanent Observer: Ambassador Michael Oren (June 25, 2009)
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Avigdor Liberman
Deputy Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of MASHAV: Daniel Carmon
Areas of Cooperation with OAS: Promoting Democracy (DECO, DSDSM); Advancing Integral Development (DSD, YABT).
ECONOMIC INDICATORS / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011Population (in millions) / 6.961 / 7.114 / 7.27 / 7.47 / 7.83
GDP (US$ in billions) / 167.997 / 202.301 / 195.39 / 234.908 / 245.3
GDP per capita (US$) / 24,134.52 / 28,437.13 / 26,874.40 / 30,934 / 31,000
GDP, PPP (Current International Dollars in billions) / 191.8 / 204.276 / 207.8 / 219.431 / 235.1
GDP growth (annual %) / 5.315 / 4.227 / 0.801 / 3.4 / 4.8
Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook Database
CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OAS 1999-2011:
Year / Israel / All POs / %1999 / $8,055,934 / 0.0%
2000 / 30,000 / $9,515,678 / 0.3%
2001 / 20,000 / $6,923,000 / 0.3%
2002 / $8,460,084 / 0.0%
2003 / $12,125,944 / 0.0%
2004 / 20,000 / $11,908,651 / 0.2%
2005 / $11,650,039 / 0.0%
2006 / $19,080,470 / 0.0%
2007 / $20,298,894 / 0.0%
2008 / $23,000,000 / 0.0%
2009 / $19,618,820 / 0.0%
2010 / $15,791,980 / 0.0%
2011 / $15,766,615 / 0.0%
Total US$ / 70,000 / $185,021,111 / 0.01%
ISRAEL CONTRIBUTIONS:
Year / Area / Cash Contributions / In-Kind Contributions1999 / Fellowships / US$350,000
SUBTOTAL / US$350,000
2000 / CIDI / US$30,000
Fellowships / US$182,625
SUBTOTAL / US$30,000 / US$182,625
2001 / Peace Fund / US$20,000
Fellowships / US$390,000
SUBTOTAL / US$20,000 / US$390,000
2003 / Fellowships and Training Programs / US$11,465
SUBTOTAL / US$11,465
2004 / Office of the ASG – Special Mission in Haiti / US$20,000
Fellowships and Training Programs (5) / US$13,600
SUBTOTAL / US$20,000 / US$13,600
2006 / YABT – Training Courses / US$100,000
SUBTOTAL / US$100,000
2007 / YABT – Training Courses / US$54,000
SUBTOTAL / US$54,000
2008 / YABT – Training Courses / US$348,000
SUBTOTAL / US$348,000
2009 / YABT – “Business Labs” Training Courses / US$348,000
SUBTOTAL / US$348,000
2010 / Training Seminars for the Young Americas Business Trust / US$348,000
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Economic Development, Education and Culture – Course: Promoción del Desarrollo Económico Local – DEL – Mediante la Planificación Estratégica – 1 scholarship / US$2,150
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Economic Development, Education and Culture – Course: Policia y Comunidad – 2 scholarships / US$4,000
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Economic Development, Education and Culture – Course: Lucha contra la Desertificación, Gestión del Agua, Desarrollo Agropecuario y Forestación – 1 scholarship / US$2,000
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Economic Development, Education and Culture – Course: Integración Social de Jovenes Marginales – 5 scholarships / US$10,000
SUBTOTAL / US$366,150
2011 / Young Americas Business Trust – Training Seminars / US$300,000
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Human Development, Education and Culture – Implementation of Education for Sustainable Development in Schools of Indigenous Communities in Central America (17 Scholarships) / US$47,430
Executive Secretariat for Integral Development / Department of Human Development, Education and Culture – Social Integration for Marginalized Youth (18 Scholarships) / US$33,750
SUBTOTAL / US$381,180
TOTAL / US$70,000 / US$ 2,545,020
Support to OAS Activities:
Israel is the largest in-kind contributor to the Young Americas Business Trust, offering fellowships, training courses, etc. as well as a cash contributor to the Peace Fund, Integral Development and the OAS Special Mission in Haiti.
International Development Cooperation:
Israeli official overseas development cooperation was launched in 1958 with the aim of sharing with the rest of the developing world the know-how and technologies which provided the basis for Israel’s own rapid development. Since then, the Center for International Cooperation of the Foreign Ministry of Israel (MASHAV) has trained almost 200,000 course participants from approximately 140 countries in Israel and abroad and has developed dozens of demonstration projects worldwide in fields of Israeli expertise.
Foreign Ministry – Goals and Areas of Responsibility:
The Foreign Ministry formulates implements and presents the foreign policy of the Government of Israel, represents the state vis-à-vis foreign governments and international organizations, explains its positions and problems throughout the world, endeavors to promote its economic, cultural, and scientific relations, and fosters cooperation with developing countries. The Ministry promotes relations with Diaspora communities and safeguards the rights of Israeli citizens abroad. The Ministry discharges its diverse duties through its head office in Jerusalem and the Israeli missions abroad.
Cooperation with the Developing World:
· Israel has an extensive program of cooperation throughout the developing world with the aim of promoting sustainable development and social equity. MASHAV serves as a bridge between Israel’s medical community and the developing world.
· MASHAV’s priorities are poverty alleviation, provision of food security, empowerment of women and upgrade of basic health and education services, putting Israel’s own creative solutions at the disposal of the developing world. The formalization of these priorities in the Millennium Development Goals has only caused MASHAV to redouble its efforts to put Israeli solutions at the service of the developing world to further these aims.
Other Involvement in Latin America:
· In the 1950s and 1960s, relations with countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean were strengthened, due in part to joint programs in which Israel shared its experience and skills in areas such as agriculture, medicine, rural and cooperative organizations, and regional and community development.
· Today Israel maintains full diplomatic relations with all the countries of Central and South American and the Caribbean region, except Cuba. These relations are reflected in productive cooperation in the political, economic and cultural spheres, as well as in a large number of bilateral agreements in many areas.
· Exports, including chemicals, high-tech software, agricultural produce, machinery and electronics, and imports, consisting mainly of meat, grain, corn, sugar, cocoa, coffee and metals, are both on the increase, and Israeli banks, construction firms and agricultural planning and development companies are active in the countries of Central and South America and the Caribbean.
· Cultural and scientific agreements for the exchange of artists, students and athletes, as well as television and radio programs, operative with some 20 countries, are coordinated by the Institute of Israel-Ibero-American Culture in Jerusalem.
· In 2007, Israel signed a free trade agreement with MERCOSUR.
BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH OAS MEMBER STATES
Argentina:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949; and
· Agreements related to cooperation on private sector industrial research and development, promotion and reciprocal protection of investment, combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, terrorism, trade and cooperation, culture, science, and education have been signed.
Canada:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949;
· Agreements related to cooperation on culture and education, mutual legal assistance, space cooperation, visa, industrial research and development, economic cooperation and development, and mutual assistance in criminal matters have been signed;
· Israel is Canada’s fourth largest merchandise export market in the middle east and North Africa;
· Since both countries signed a free trade agreement in 1997 bilateral merchandise trade has more than tripled from $507.3mn to $1.8bn in 2008;
· Canada’s top exports to Israel are machinery, electrical machinery, paper and newsprint, plastics, wood and aluminum, while Canada’s top imports from Israel are pharmaceutical products, precious stones and metals, optical equipment and organic chemicals; and
· In 2009, during a high level bilateral consultation meeting both countries agreed on their need to reinforce economic ties, increase bilateral trade and investment, and promote scientific cooperation.
Chile:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949; and
· Agreements related to cooperation on culture, science, education, and fight against the illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and against crime have been signed.
Ecuador:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1950;
· Agreements related to cooperation on education and culture have been signed; and
· Ecuador’s top exports to Israel are cocoa, palm, wood, bananas and vegetables while Ecuador’s top imports from Israel are high technology telecommunications and irrigation systems.
Mexico:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1950;
· Agreements related to cooperation on education and technology have been signed;
· Mexico is the second most important trading partner for Israel in Latin America; and
· In 2000, both countries signed a Free Trade Agreement; and held the Fourth Policy Dialogue in which they discussed a range of subjects including bilateral political and economic relations, trade and investment, international cooperation, culture, tourism, education, science and technology, and legal and consular matters.
Peru:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1949; and
· Agreements related to cooperation on tourism, science and technology have been signed;
United States:
· Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1948;
· Agreements related to cooperation on education, development, terrorism, extradition and free trade have been signed;
· Both countries cooperates in education, culture and science and technology through the US-Israeli Education Foundation (which sponsors educational and cultural programs), the Binational Agricultural Research and Development and the Binational Science Foundation;
· Since the establishment of the Joint Political Military Group in 1983, which meets twice a year, both countries participate in joint military planning and combined exercise and collaborates on military research and weapons development;
· In 2009 US military aid to Israel in 2009 totals USD 2.55bn. This will increase to USD 3 billion in 2012, and will total USD 3.15 billion a year from 2013 to 2018.
SOURCES:
OAS | Department of International Affairs | 5
Organization of American States, Department of International Affairs
http://www.der.oas.org
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
http://www.mfa.gov.il/
MASHAV Center for International Cooperation
http://mashav.mfa.gov.il/
United Nations
http://www.un.org
United Nations, Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance
http://www.reliefweb.int/fts
IMF, World Economic Outlook Database
http://www.imf.org
OAS | Department of International Affairs | 5
This page was last updated on April 19, 2012
OAS | Department of International Affairs | 5