THE HAGUE, Netherlands – The Palestinian foreign minister says that his government intends to apply for membership at the International Criminal Court this year in hopes of holding Israel responsible for alleged violations of war crimes law in Israeli-occupied territories.
But after meeting with ICC officials, Riyad al-Maliki said his country hasn't yet made a final decision.
An earlier attempt by the Palestinians to join the ICC in 2009 failed because the court wasn't certain the territories qualified as a state. Al-Maliki argued Tuesday that is no longer an issue since the state of Palestine was recognized by the U.N. General Assembly as a nonmember observer state in November 2012.
Israel rejects the court's authority, while membership for the Palestinians could also open the door for an investigation of Hamas.
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