Palestinian Authority accepted as observer state in ICC

December 11, 2014



On Monday, the (PA) was granted the status of an Observer State in the  (ICC) in. This decision promotes the PA toward permanent membership in the court, and helps establish the PA's status in the international arena.

The ICC is an independent organization, in which 122 states are members. The organization operates under the, and is not part of the (UN) as such. The is a further promotion in the international community's approach toward the PA. Palestinian Ambassador to the UN  said that now,   needs to decide when to apply to be accepted as a full member.

international justice counsel Balkees Jarrah told the his organization called on the Palestinians "to join the court which could open up the prospect of justice for serious crimes by all sides".

This is another step for the PA toward exercising its threats to sue for committing  in its territory, following. PA Foreign Minister said there was "no other option" given the large numbers of civilian casualties.

This step was taken despite Israel's warnings to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, backed by the, not to apply for full membership in the ICC. Israelis have objected that move could lead to pressuring Israel during future negotiations, using the threat of a war crimes suit.

In November 2012, the Palestinian Authority was accepted as an observing state without the right to vote in the UN, in a sweeping vote of the. Subsequently, during the last few weeks, several European parliaments voted in favor of acknowledgement of a. Similarly to the vote in Hague last Monday, these votes are symbolic gestures.