OFFICIAL: PALESTINE TO JOIN INTERPOL

Bethlehem, 13 Rabiul Awwal 1436/4 January 2015 (MINA) – Palestinian authorities have decided to join the International Criminal Police Organization, widely known as Interpol, an official revealed Saturday (3/1).

The head of the international relations and cooperation department in the Palestinian Authority Ministry of Interior told Ma’an that the PA plans to submit a request to join the group in 2015, ahead of Interpol’s annual meeting.

Ahmad al-Rabie said that Palestine submitted a request to join the Interpol in 2011 but that it was only accepted as an observer and not as a full member because it had not been recognized as a state at the time and did not have control over its borders.

This time, however, Palestine is sure that 128 countries will vote in favor of the state joining Interpol, four above the required threshold, al-Rabie said, Ma’an News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

He said joining Interpol will result in several international benefits for Palestine, including the ability to take part in fighting cross-border crimes and fighting terrorism, money laundering, corruption, arms trade, and human trafficking.

Al-Rabie said that joining the Interpol will also benefit the Palestinian police as they will receive training courses, expertise, and information from the organization.

He expects that police will be supplied with information from other police around the world about international criminal networks in addition to the ability to extradite wanted Palestinians from any other country in the world.

Palestine is a member in the Arab Bureau of Criminal Police, which has helped in capturing wanted Palestinian fugitives. (T/P010/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)