The European Jewish Congress (EJC) decried the Palestinian Authority”s acceptances to membership in the Interpol international police organization, saying that the move “is likely to only exacerbate difficulties in international cooperation in the critical fight against terror.” “It is unconscionable that the Palestinian Authority, only a day after a major terrorist attack in Israel, is being…
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Washington, DC — Americans for Peace Now (APN) rejects calls by senior members of the Israeli cabinet to penalize the Palestinian Authority for its move to gain membership in Interpol, the international police organization.
The move passed today at the Interpol General Assembly in Beijing by a majority of 75 member-states, with 24 opposing and 34 abstaining. Subsequently, senior members of the Israeli government called for various punitive measured to be taken against the Palestinian Authority (PA) on a broad range of issues.
While recognizing that moves to gain statehood recognition on the international arena will not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, APN urges the Israeli government as well as the Trump administration – both vehemently opposed the acceptance of Palestine as a member of Interpol – to focus on the positive. Instead of punishing the PA, APN urges the government of Israel to use this and other Palestinian actions on the international arena to advance a two-state peace deal.
APN believes that the Palestinian Authority’s pursuit of statehood recognition internationally is both legal and legitimate. It is particularly legitimate from a Palestinian perspective when the government of Israel refuses to engage in serious negotiations for a two-state solution and when the Trump administration, while stating its intent to broker peace, fails to endorse the two-state solution.
APN’s President and CEO Debra DeLee said: “What happened today in Beijing was a defeat for Israel and the Trump administration, which tried to block the Palestinians’ joining the Interpol, but it need not be a defeat for peace efforts. If the goal is a two-state solution, as it should be, then the building of Palestinian state institutions, whether in the West Bank or in the international arena, should be harnessed as a potential step toward peace.
“Palestinians see settlement construction intensifying and hear Prime Minister Netanyahu vowing to further intensify it and to never remove any Israeli from West Bank settlements. They are faced with an Israeli government that celebrates the settlements and the occupation – as it did today in Gush Etzion. One should therefore not be surprised when Palestinians conclude that their only non-violent path to ending the occupation is through internationalizing their cause. If they conclude that the bilateral diplomatic path – negotiations with Israel – is blocked, they will continue pursuing a multilateral path by seeking more international recognition.”
With the admission of the Palestinian Authority to Interpol, human rights attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, of the Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, is calling upon Interpol to arrest Hamas terrorist Saleh Al-Arouri and for him to stand trial in Israel and/or the United States.
Darshan-Leitner represents the family of Naftali Fraenkel, who was kidnapped and murdered by Hamas terrorists in 2014, in an attack orchestrated by Al-Arouri.
In a letter sent to Interpol, Darshan-Leitner writes:
“Due to the international nature of this matter and Al-Arouri’s movement between various jurisdictions with varying levels of relations with Israel, Interpol’s assistance in obtaining the arrest and trial of Al-Arouri for his involvement in these murders is essential. Accordingly, we urge Interpol to take all required steps to locate and obtain the arrest of Saleh Al-Arouri for the kidnapping and murder of Naftali Fraenkel, Eyal Yifrah and Gilad Sha’ar, and for the murder of Rabbi Eitan and Na’ama Henkin.
“We sincerely hope that you will support our efforts to have Saleh Al-Arouri arrested and tried… and not allow the perpetrators of terror against innocent civilians to remain at large when there exist viable legal avenues to bring them to justice.”
Greg Menken
New York, NY, September 27, 2017 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed disappointed at today’s vote by Interpol to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member state, calling the step premature.
Sharon Nazarian, ADL Senior Vice President, International Affairs, issued the following statement:
We are disappointed by the Interpol vote to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member state. We believe this admission is premature.
Today’s vote must be seen as the latest step in the ongoing Palestinian campaign to seek international recognition as a state outside the context of bilateral negotiations with Israel. Issues such as statehood, borders, security and related mechanisms can only be resolved through direct negotiations, and the international community should refrain from rewarding Palestinian efforts to circumvent this process.
There is also legitimate concern expressed by Israel that the Palestinians could use their membership in Interpol to mount unwarranted legal challenges, including travel bans and extradition requests, against Israeli military and security officials.