The CBS predicts that exports will climb 13.1%, after falling 12.5% in 2009, and that consumer spending will increase 5% and residential building by 11.1%

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a press release that "The decision opens for Israel investment opportunities that had been closed”

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently announced that Jerusalem will be hosting its annual Tourism Committee Conference in October of this year

The OECD predicted that the rise in Israeli consumer prices would slow to 1.7% in 2010 from 3.3% last year, but would speed up again in 2011

Israel was accepted into the group by a unanimous vote of the 31 member states. As an OECD member, Israel will be held accountable to strict review of its economic practices

Finance Minister Steinitz said that the new membership is 'stamp of approval' which will attract foreign investments

Stanley Fischer predicted that the country's economy would grow 3.7% this year, up from his previous prediction of 3.5%

The February figure of 222,000 tourists was 46% up compared with February 2009