2010 marks the accession of Israelto the OECD as a full member. This reinforces Israel’s global position economically as well as in other fields. As part of this process, Israel joined the OECD anti-bribery convention and amended its tax legislation to deny as expenditure any payment that may reasonably constitute a criminal act (for more information see tax news alert No. 6) As an OECD member, and for several years prior to that, Israel is committed to expand its network of bilateral tax treaties, in order to boost international trading while ensuring an on-going exchange of fiscal information with other countries. These are among the major goals of the organization within the taxation and anti-laundering fields. In this respect we may note two of the new tax treaties that came into force during 2010 – a treaty with Denmark (replacing an old treaty) and a treaty with Estonia (for more information see tax news alert No. 7). Both reinforce Israel’s declared intentions of following the OECD Tax Treaty Model, especially with regards to lowering or annulment of tax withholding at source form dividends, interest and royalty payments. The treaty with Denmark also includes a mutual commitment by the contracting states to assist in collection of taxes. This clause, however, will only be effective when another treaty of Israel which includes a similar commitment will come into force (none yet). Furthermore, the Israeli taxes authority has recently expressed the intention to start treaty negotiations with off-shore jurisdictions, especially with regards to exchange of fiscal information. This position corresponds with a wider trend of many countries to accomplish agreements with off-shore jurisdictions as part of a global combat against money laundering and fiscal offences. It seems that Israel has taken a big step forward in those fields as well.