IMRABETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — Palestinian authorities have decided to join the International Criminal Police Organization, widely known as Interpol, an
official revealed Saturday.
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.
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.
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