One of the restrictions on WTO member countries is that they may not boycott other member countries. But the Exception Clause appears to be in full swing here, because the Saudis are openly announcing that they still boycott Israeli goods, and are hosting an OIC forum on how to improve the boycott of Israel.
Despite a promise made to Washington last November to drop its economic boycott of Israel, Saudi Arabia plans to host a major international conference next week aimed at promoting a continued trade embargo on the Jewish state, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
The Post also found that the kingdom continues to prohibit entry to products made in Israel or to foreign-made goods containing Israeli components, in violation of pledges made by senior Saudi officials to the Bush administration last year.
“Next week, we will hold the ninth annual meeting for the boycott of Israel here in Jidda,” Ambassador Salem el-Honi, high commissioner of the Organization for the Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Islamic Office for the Boycott of Israel, said in a telephone interview.
“All 57 OIC member states will attend, and we will discuss coordination among the various offices to strengthen the boycott,” he said, noting that the meeting is held every March.
The OIC, consisting of 57 Muslim countries, is based in Jidda, as is its boycott office.
Gee, I wonder if any action will be taken against Saudi Arabia’s membership status in the WTO.
No, not really. I was just kidding.
The Exception Clause stands unchanged.
The Saudis likely lied on Texas soil at Bush’s ranch in Crawford. And this is one case where Bush *knew* they were lying and did nothing about it.
Forevermore, that is unholy ground.
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