The International Olive Council (IOC) is an intergovernmental organisation of nations producing or processing olives. European nations, including the UK, are jointly represented by the EU delegation.
Palestinians have urged the IOC to condemn attacks by Israeli settlers on olive groves in the West Bank.
In 2013 the Palestinian Authority applied for membership of the IOC on the grounds that it is essentially a technical, not a political, body. British and German governments objected to the Palestinian bid on the grounds that the Palestinian Authority had undertaken not to take unilateral action by joining international bodies so long as the peace talks initiated by John Kerry were going ahead.
The Palestinians deferred their appplication to avoid a diplomatic defeat.