Saudi Arabia: joining WTO does not meaning dealing with Israel
Saudi Arabia-Israel, Politics, 3/9/2006

An official source at the World Trade Organization (WTO) said that there is no text nor an article in the agreement providing for Saudi Arabia's joining of the World Trade Organization, that makes it imperative for Saudi Arabia to cancel its boycott of Israel or halt its continuity of this boycott.

The source explained to the Saudi daily al-Watan on Wednesday that despite idioms like "boycott" and "sanctions" and "halting trade relations," "fees" and protection are not in the terms of the WTO, however, article 35 of the general agreement of GATT gives each WTO member state the right to abstain from implementing GATT terms towards another country if it had not earlier joined it in trade negotiations or if such relations threatens its vital interest.

On Tuesday, the Israeli daily Jerusalem Post strongly criticized Saudi Arabia, saying that Riyadh is planning to host the Arab boycott conference for Israel, considering that this matter contradicts with the laws of the WTO stated in its agreement with Saudi Arabia. The Israeli paper said in its main headline it had "discovered " that Saudi Arabia continues using products produced in Israel or products which include Israeli components.

Previous Stories:
  Saudi daily and Sharon's call to bring in French Jews   (8/9/2004)
  Saudi Cabinet deplores Israeli Practices   (7/20/2004)
  Riyadh denies foiling a suicide operation against Israel   (2/11/2004)

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