Palestinian diplomat denies Interpol membership controversy

A Palestinian diplomat denied on Tuesday that Israel had frustrated an attempt by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to join the international police organization Interpol.

Ammar Hejazi, advisor of Palestinian Foreign Ministry and member of the Palestinian delegation to the Interpol general assembly meeting currently held in Indonesia, said some Israeli reports regarding the issue "are incorrect."

Hejazi's remarks came as Israeli public radio reported that the Israeli diplomacy had convinced a majority of Interpol members to vote against putting the Palestinian request to join on the meeting's agenda.

"The Palestinian request was not achieved in this session because the Interpol Executive Committee said it would study new membership requests next year," he said.

The Palestinian diplomat said Israel is incapable of frustrating the Palestinian membership into any international organization, stressing that Israel is trying to register baseless victories.

The Interpol, established in 1923 and based in the French city of Lyon, is considered as the world's largest international police organization with 190 member states.