Until now, Israel has participated as part of the Asian division, despite the fact that 70 percent of its international police operations take place in Europe. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that as a result, it was often complicated, if not impossible, for Israeli and European police departments to work together on common cases.
Five years ago, Israel finally submitted a request for admission into the European regional division of Interpol. The organization’s Jerusalem unit and Israeli police representatives in Europe teamed up with Israel’s police department and the Foreign Ministry’s ambassadors to Europe to work on the issue.
Despite a statement on Interpol’s official website that says Interpol’s constitution prohibits "any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character," concerns over Arab objections to Israel’s participation held up its acceptance into the European regional branch.
This year, the increasing need for Israel’s cooperation on international terrorism and other crimes finally outweighed European worries about angering Arab countries.
Presentations by Israeli police officials at a European regional conference over the summer finally convinced the membership that it was time to include Israel. After a secret ballot, a two-thirds majority voted to accept Israel’s services to the region – the first of two steps necessary for full membership.
The second and final step took place this weekend at the international organization’s annual General Assembly meeting in the Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro, when the 186-member organization voted to formally accept the Jewish state as a full European division member.
Former Ambassador to Washington and past legal adviser to the Foreign Ministry Meir Rosenne said the move was a logical one. “After September 11th and the bombings in Madrid and London," he said, "Europeans have become increasingly aware that there is no fight against international terrorism without international cooperation."
Israel’s wide-ranging experience with terrorism, he added, will be a valuable addition to the international crime-fighting organization.
Five years ago, Israel finally submitted a request for admission into the European regional division of Interpol. The organization’s Jerusalem unit and Israeli police representatives in Europe teamed up with Israel’s police department and the Foreign Ministry’s ambassadors to Europe to work on the issue.
Despite a statement on Interpol’s official website that says Interpol’s constitution prohibits "any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character," concerns over Arab objections to Israel’s participation held up its acceptance into the European regional branch.
This year, the increasing need for Israel’s cooperation on international terrorism and other crimes finally outweighed European worries about angering Arab countries.
Presentations by Israeli police officials at a European regional conference over the summer finally convinced the membership that it was time to include Israel. After a secret ballot, a two-thirds majority voted to accept Israel’s services to the region – the first of two steps necessary for full membership.
The second and final step took place this weekend at the international organization’s annual General Assembly meeting in the Brazilian capital of Rio de Janeiro, when the 186-member organization voted to formally accept the Jewish state as a full European division member.
Former Ambassador to Washington and past legal adviser to the Foreign Ministry Meir Rosenne said the move was a logical one. “After September 11th and the bombings in Madrid and London," he said, "Europeans have become increasingly aware that there is no fight against international terrorism without international cooperation."
Israel’s wide-ranging experience with terrorism, he added, will be a valuable addition to the international crime-fighting organization.