AP Interview: Palestinians will join world court if UN doesn't set Israeli pullout deadline

UNITED NATIONS – The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations says his government will join the International Criminal Court if the U.N. Security Council refuses to set a deadline for Israel to withdraw from all Palestinian territory.

Joining the court would enable the Palestinians to pursue war crimes charges against key Israelis.

Riyad Mansour also said in an interview Thursday with The Associated Press that if the council shuts the "door to peace," the Palestinians will keep seeking new doors, including holding an international conference leading to Palestinian independence.

Mansour expressed hope that the Security Council will approve a recently circulated draft resolution that would set a deadline of November 2016 for an Israeli pullout. But the draft is almost certain to face opposition from the United States, Israel's closest ally.