© ReutersRalph Tarraf (centre), European Union representative, visits with international diplomats in the Beit Hanoun town in the northern Gaza Strip.
"The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Israeli Police, under the guidance of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, together with the National Security Council and others, carried out an intensive global effort over the last few weeks. This vote is an accomplishment and a triumph of Israeli diplomacy, reflecting the positive change in the Israel's standing in the international arena," the joint statement reads.
According to the statement, the Palestinian attempt to join Interpol reflects the ongoing campaign of Ramallah to avoid direct talks with Israel to settle the long-standing conflict and to continue this conflict through international organizations "in a way that disrupts these bodies' work."
A total of 62 Interpol member states voted against the Palestinian request to be put on the agenda of Assembly. Interpol comprises 190 member countries and is tasked with the search for international and war criminals, tackling terrorism and organized crime and countering smuggling, drug trafficking, money laundering and intellectual property crime. The organization's General Secretariat is headquartered in Lyon, while the General Assembly is Interpol's highest authority and takes all major decisions related to general policy, financing, working methods and programs. The last assembly was held in Kigali, Rwanda in November 2015.
Comment: Israel is touting its own importance for propaganda purposes, skewing circumstances to twist the knife. It can't legally stop the Palestinians from joining Interpol. The rejection was merely a procedural issue to not discuss Palestinian membership at this time. The Executive Committee confirmed it will review new membership requests next year.