OECD protests tourism minister's remarks about recognizing Jerusalem

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The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has sent a sharply-worded letter to the prime minister after a political ally said the group's upcoming conference in Jerusalem proves the disputed city is recognized as Israel's capital, an official said yesterday.

The flap comes just five months after Israel won long-sought membership in the OECD, an exclusive club of prosperous economies.

In order to go forward with the meeting on the current basis, the tourism minister should correct the misperception created and put the meeting in its proper perspective, OECD secretary-general Angel Gurria wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a tourism ministry official said yesterday.

The official, who denied the OECD was threatening to cancel the conference, spoke on condition of anonymity because the contents of the letter were private.

Netanyahu's office and the Paris-based OECD had no comment on the letter.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/oecd-protests-tourism-minister-s-remarks-about-recognizing-jerusalem-1.318113