Palestine takes its first step as Interpol member state
Palestinian officials say that joining interpol will allow them to fight crime more efficiently, and reject claims that they will use membership to target Israeli officials.
![SINGAPORE-INTERPOL/ RTS7V47.jpg](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2017/10-1/RTS7V47.jpg/RTS7V47.jpg?h=a5ae579a&itok=TNUCzFQ8)
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On Oct. 12, at a meeting in Ramallah of the committee formed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to follow up on his country’s accession to Interpol, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah decided to establish the Interpol National Central Bureau for Palestine.
This comes after Interpol approved the membership of the Palestinian territories at its 86th General Assembly meeting held in Beijing, China, on Sept. 27, with 75 voting countries backing the Palestinian membership.