Palestine accepted as member of Interpol

INTERPOL approved the Palestinian Authority’s membership bid yesterday, a new victory in its drive for international representation despite strong Israeli opposition.

Israel lobbies hard against Palestinian efforts to join global organisations to advance its goal of statehood.

It claimed victory last year when the Palestinian bid to join the global police body was suspended.

Interpol approved the Palestinian application along with a bid by the Solomon Islands during its annual general assembly in Beijing yesterday.

“New member countries State of Palestine and Solomon Islands bring Interpol’s membership to 192,” it said on its Twitter account.

It did not detail the voting but candidacies require the approval of a twothirds majority of countries present at the general assembly, excluding abstentions.

The Palestine Liberation Organisation’s negotiations affairs department said on Twitter it had received more than 75% of the vote.

“Palestine’s membership is the outcome of members defending this organisation’s raison d’etre and advancing its core values, and a clear rejection of attempts at cynical manipulation and political bullying,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said.

Israel’s foreign ministry did not immediately comment.

Palestine gained observer status at the United Nations in 2012 and since then has joined more than 50 international organisations and agreements, including the International Criminal Court and Unesco, according to the Palestinian foreign ministry.

Alan Baker, a former senior Israeli diplomat and legal expert, said the membership application was a political PR move on the Palestinians’ part.

He said their attempt to politicise a super-professional organisation was very harmful to Interpol.