The Palestinian Authority has joined the International Criminal Court, vowing to hand over suspects to The Hague – including their own government officials. <br /><br /> In a move deeply opposed by Israel, the Palestinians are becoming the 123rd member of the world’s permanent war crimes tribunal. <br /><br /> “As the Rome Statute 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 Statute,” said Judge Kuniko Ozaki, Second Vice-President of the International Criminal Court. <br /><br /> Joining the court is part of the Palestinians’ campaign to win global recognition of statehood.<br /><br /> But Israel says such a move damages prospects for a negotiated solution to the decades-long conflict. <br /><br /> “This step and anything that could reveal the hypocrisy of the occupation is helpful for us,” said one Palestinian in Hebron.<br /><br /> “The crimes of the occupation have been going on for 50 to 60 years, killing the Palestinian people and takin
