Palestine is now Interpol member state
Israel slams move, wary that Palestinians could issue ‘Red Notice’ alert to arrest Israelis
As part of global body, Palestinians can seek ‘Red Notice’ alert to arrest Israelis |
Palestine joined Interpol as a member state yesterday, a move opposed by Israel, in a vote at the international police organisation’s general assembly in Beijing, Interpol said.
“The State of Palestine and the Solomon Islands are now Interpol member countries,” an Interpol tweet read.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry, which said earlier that Israel’s efforts to delay a vote until next year had failed, had no immediate comment on the decision.
Israel, which has consistently campaigned against any sort of recognition of Palestine in international bodies, slammed the decision, claiming that “Palestine is not a state” and that it is ineligible for Interpol membership.
“This victory was made possible because of the principled position of the majority of Interpol members,” Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Al Maliki said in a statement.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation said on Twitter that more than 75 per cent of Interpol members voted to approve membership.
“On this joyous occasion, the State of Palestine reiterates its commitment to upholding its obligations and contributing to fighting crime and furthering the rule of law,” Al Maliki said.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly upgraded the Palestinian National Authority’s observer status at the United Nations to “non-member state” from “entity”, like the Vatican.
The step fell short of full UN membership, but it had important legal implications in allowing the Palestinians access to international bodies, should they choose to join.
Israeli media commentators have voiced concern that as an Interpol member, Palestine could ask the organisation to issue a “Red Notice”, an alert to police worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual, pending extradition.
But the procedure does not appear to pose serious legal problems for Israelis such as government officials and military officers whom pro-Palestinian groups have sought to have arrested by local authorities as suspected war criminals during overseas visits.
A red notice is not an international arrest warrant, and on its website Interpol notes that it cannot compel any member country to detain an individual named in one.