The Israeli authorities are preparing to start a campaign to convince the International Criminal Police Organization, Interpol, to reject the membership application from the Palestinian Authority, Quds Press reported on Sunday.

Using its diplomatic representation overseas, the foreign ministry is trying to explain Israel’s stance on the PA’s bid to join the organization.

According to the Walla website, the move to join Interpol is part of the PA’s strategy to join international organizations. After the UN, Interpol is the largest of such bodies.

Israel tries to block PA bid to join Interpol https://t.co/VERC3me7C1 via @MiddleEastMnt

— PSC (@PSCupdates) October 31, 2016

When the application of the PA was submitted a very short time before the last annual meeting of Interpol members, it was rejected. Earlier this year, the PA renewed its request to join the organization, but the executive committee decided in May not to vote on any new applications.

According to Quds Press, though, Interpol then set up an independent committee of experts to decide on the criteria for potential new members, including the PA, Kosovo and the Solomon Islands.

The newspaper said that Turkey has announced that it has added the PA request to join Interpol to the agenda for the 2016 meeting and that it has been agreed to put the application to a vote.

(MEMO, PC)