Interpol membership for Palestine a welcome step

A UAE newspaper has said that Interpol’s approval of membership for the Palestinian Authority is a well-deserved victory for Palestinians.

"The truth is Israelis are unable to digest the fact that Palestinians are getting increasing support of the world over in their non-violent fight against occupation and decades-long injustice," said The Gulf Today in an editorial on Friday.

On the ground, Israeli atrocities come in varied ways. Continuing settlement expansion, most notably in occupied East Jerusalem, is making the two-State solution increasingly unattainable and undermining Palestinian belief in the international peace efforts.

The paper quoted Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, as saying that in addition to illegal settlements, the practice of demolishing Palestinian structures in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and displacing Palestinians undermines the prospects of peace.

Palestinians are genuinely looking for presence in reputed international institutions, including Interpol, as an organised state.

Senior Palestinian official Jibril Rajoub made the position clear by saying, "We are looking for the Palestinian state to be a positive contributor towards security and stability in the region and in the international community."

The paper continued, "On the contrary, Israel does not want any step that will help facilitate a Palestinian state and repeatedly places hurdles aimed at scuttling the peace process.

"Palestine gained observer status at the United Nations in 2012 and since then joined more than 50 international organisations and agreements. Among them are the International Criminal Court and Unesco.

"Interpol, which is based in France, eases the exchange of information between police forces. It also issues "red notices" non-binding notifications of arrest warrants.

Just this week, the United Arab Emirates had expressed concerns over the lack of debate in the Human Rights Council on the human rights violations taking place in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"If the Human Rights Council cannot be a platform to highlight the blatant violations by the occupying authority that has been going on for more than 60 years, who will guarantee and protect the human rights of the Palestinian people?" Obaid Salem Saeed Nasser Al Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations, asked in a speech during the 36th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

"UN statistics reveal that Israeli settlements in the West Bank have grown steadily by around 5.5 percent, where more than 80 percent of all settlers reside.

"The majority of Interpol members who supported the Palestinians and took a principled position deserve huge praise. They can be proud that they voted for justice," concluded the Sharjah-based daily.