Palestinian bid to join Interpol goes ahead despite Israeli objections

The Palestinian Authority’s latest bid to join Interpol will go to a vote at the General Assembly later this week despite Israeli efforts to thwart the bid to the international law enforcement body

The Foreign Ministry says the PA’s request was approved by Interpol’s Executive Committee and will be brought for a vote in the General Assembly later this week. Israeli officials say the PA will likely be able to garner the necessary two-thirds majority at a vote in the Assembly.

In an effort to disqualify the Palestinian bid, Israeli diplomats have reportedly been lobbying behind the scenes for stricter criteria for new members.

Israel has expressed concerns that the PA’s membership in Interpol would result in sensitive information being leaked to Palestinian terror groups.

Interpol’s General Assembly convened today for its annual meeting in China, where the international policing organization will vote on new members.