Twenty-five years after making their first bid for membership, the Palestinians can join the Geneva Conventions governing the rules of war and military occupations, the Swiss government said Friday.

Israel had opposed the move, arguing that there is no universally recognized Palestinian state and that it would complicate peace talks.

On Thursday, the United Nations said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accepted Palestinian applications to join 13 other U.N. conventions.

Switzerland, as the depositary of the Geneva Conventions, said “the state of Palestine” acceded to the conventions effective April 2.