Abbas rivals abroad wary as PA joins Interpol
As Interpol's newest member, some rivals of President Mahmoud Abbas fear the Palestinian Authority may be tempted to misuse its new connections to pursue them.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestinian Authority (PA) was voted in as a full member of Interpol in September, and the Palestinian membership was approved in Beijing by 75 to 24, with 34 abstentions.
The PA recently completed the technical procedures to connect the Palestinian police force to the organization’s databases in the Lyon headquarters on Feb. 21.
With this new status, the Palestinian police have access to information on criminal activities from police agencies around the world and will be able to issue red notices, international requests for the detention of wanted individuals for extradition.
The step has raised concerns among the PA’s exiled political rivals. Dismissed Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan and others such as Mohamed Rachid and Walid Najb fear that the PA might use Interpol to track them down and extradite them.
