article_snippet.sent: (CNN)The Palestinian Authority officially became the 123rd member of the International Criminal Court on Wednesday, a step that gives the court jurisdiction over alleged crimes in Palestinian territories.
article_snippet.sent: The Palestinians signed the ICC's founding Rome Statute in January, when The Palestinians also accepted The Palestinians jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed "in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, since June 13, 2014.
article_snippet.sent: As members of the International Criminal Court, The Palestinians may be subject to counter-charges as well.
article_snippet.sent: As Palestine formally becomes a State Party to the ICC's founding Rome Statute today, the world is also a step closer to ending a long era of impunity and injustice," Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki said, according to an ICC news release.
article_snippet.sent: Judge Kuniko Ozaki, a vice president of the ICC, said acceding to the treaty was just the first step for The Palestinians.
article_snippet.sent: As the ICC's founding Rome Statute today enters into force for the State of Palestine, Palestine acquires all the rights as well as responsibilities that come with being a State Party to the ICC's founding Rome Statute.
article_snippet.sent: Governments seeking to penalize Palestine for joining the ICC should immediately end Governments seeking to penalize Palestine for joining the ICC pressure, and countries that support universal acceptance of the treaty should speak out to welcome the treaty membership," said Balkees Jarrah, international justice counsel for the group.
article_snippet.sent: Palestine's decision to join a treaty to which over 100 countries around the world are members.
highlights_snippet.sent: Membership gives the ICC jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed in Palestinian territories since last June .
  