PALESTINE CAN BE A MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

        Gaza City, 21 Muharram 1435/25 November 2013 (MINA) – A spokesman for the ICC said that Palestine’s membership has become possible after it became an observing member of the UN, World Bulletin reported.

        “Palestine’s membership has become possible after it became an observing member of the United Nations,” Fadi Abdullah told a lecture at the National Library in the Moroccan capital Rabat, ALRAY, Palestinian Media Agency quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

         Palestine became the 194 member of the UN in November 2012 after 138 member-states voted in favor of its application, with the abstention of forty one countries and the opposition of nine.

         Abdullah, a Lebanese rights advocate, noted that only four Arab countries are signatories of the Rome Statue.

         The Hague-based ICC is a permanent tribunal to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

        It was created by the Rome Statute which came into effect on 1 July 2002. (T/P02/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)