UNITED NATIONS: The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations has delivered on Friday signed documents to the UN seeking to join the International Criminal Court, formally launching the accession process which in turn could see the Palestinian Authority seeking war crimes charges to be brought against Israel.

Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters: “We are honoured that we are to be the 123rd state party to join the ICC, which will become effective about 60 days from now”.

“It is a very significant step which we will be taking. It is a legal option, it is a peaceful option, it is a civilised option and it is an option that anyone who upholds the law should not be afraid of.”

The Palestinians were undeterred by Israeli threats to respond and US disapproval of its moves, and delivered applications to join 20 international organisations and treaties to UN official James Rawley.

Chief PLO Negotiator Saeb Erekat, who delivered the applications to Mr Rawley during a meeting in Ramallah, said, “Today we are honoured to hand the deputy special coordinator for the Middle East peace process Palestinian papers to join a set of international conventions and treaties, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.”

He rejected Israeli criticism of the decision to join the ICC. “Israel regarded it as an act of aggression against it, but we are exercising a civilised right based on international law and legitimacy,” he said.

Erekat said that the first case the Palestinians would take to the ICC was Israeli settlements, which he dubbed a “war crime”. If Israel was afraid of the ICC, “it should stop perpetrating crimes,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2015

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