New York, NY, September 27, 2017 …

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed disappointed at today’s vote by Interpol to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member state, calling the step premature.

Sharon Nazarian, ADL Senior Vice President, International Affairs, issued the following statement:

“We are disappointed by the Interpol vote to admit the “State of Palestine” as a full member state. We believe this admission is premature.

Today’s vote must be seen as the latest step in the ongoing Palestinian campaign to seek international recognition as a state outside the context of bilateral negotiations with Israel. Issues such as statehood, borders, security and related mechanisms can only be resolved through direct negotiations, and the international community should refrain from rewarding Palestinian efforts to circumvent this process.

There is also legitimate concern expressed by Israel that the Palestinians could use their membership in Interpol to mount unwarranted legal challenges, including travel bans and extradition requests, against Israeli military and security officials.”