(PHOTO: TIPH headquarters in the H1
Palestinian Authority section of Hebron. Credit: Wiki
Commons.)
Palestinian Authority section of Hebron. Credit: Wiki
Commons.)
The pressure is on to end the mandate for the Temporary International
Presence in Hebron. The foreign observer force that has faced controversy in recent
months may not get their mandate renewed at the end of January as they have for the past
20-plus years.
Presence in Hebron. The foreign observer force that has faced controversy in recent
months may not get their mandate renewed at the end of January as they have for the past
20-plus years.
Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan stated on
Thursday, “it is no wonder that a force composed of policemen from a hostile Islamic
state such as Turkey and pro-Palestinian countries that sponsor boycotts [against
Israel] such as Sweden and Norway, interferes with IDF soldiers and police, creates
friction with the settlers, and cooperates with radical organizations and promotes the
delegitimization of Israel. It is right and proper for the Israeli government to prevent
the continued activity of this ‘temporary’ force acting to harm
Israel.”
Thursday, “it is no wonder that a force composed of policemen from a hostile Islamic
state such as Turkey and pro-Palestinian countries that sponsor boycotts [against
Israel] such as Sweden and Norway, interferes with IDF soldiers and police, creates
friction with the settlers, and cooperates with radical organizations and promotes the
delegitimization of Israel. It is right and proper for the Israeli government to prevent
the continued activity of this ‘temporary’ force acting to harm
Israel.”
Minister Erdan is the latest elected official to call for TIPH’s ouster. He
commissioned the Israel Police to write a report on the matter and its results were
scathing. The district police stated that TIPH “is deliberately creating friction to
justify their salaries. The members of the mission confront with IDF troops stationed at
permanent checkpoints and disrupt standard inspection procedures of the Palestinian
Authority population going through the checkpoints.”
commissioned the Israel Police to write a report on the matter and its results were
scathing. The district police stated that TIPH “is deliberately creating friction to
justify their salaries. The members of the mission confront with IDF troops stationed at
permanent checkpoints and disrupt standard inspection procedures of the Palestinian
Authority population going through the checkpoints.”
The report comes after a
Knesset conference in January which was attended by scores of Members of
Knesset and ministers which praised the Jewish community and
decried TIPH.
Knesset conference in January which was attended by scores of Members of
Knesset and ministers which praised the Jewish community and
decried TIPH.
HISTORY OF TIPH
The idea of foreign observers in Hebron was first conceived in 1994 with TIPH
in its current incarnation being deployed in 1997 following the Hebron Accords that
divided the city between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. TIPH’s stated mission is
to “to promote by its presence a feeling of security to the Palestinians of Hebron.”
For full mission statement visit the TIPH
website here.
in its current incarnation being deployed in 1997 following the Hebron Accords that
divided the city between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. TIPH’s stated mission is
to “to promote by its presence a feeling of security to the Palestinians of Hebron.”
For full mission statement visit the TIPH
website here.
Today, the PA controls 80% of Hebron with 20% being under Israeli
jurisdiction. Of that 20% Israeli civilians and tourists are only allowed to access
Jewish neighborhoods, except in pre-planned escorted tours.
jurisdiction. Of that 20% Israeli civilians and tourists are only allowed to access
Jewish neighborhoods, except in pre-planned escorted tours.
Patrolling the streets of Israel’s H2 side of Hebron in their blue vests
and white cars, TIPH has 13 local staff and 64 other members who come from contributing
countries which include Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
and white cars, TIPH has 13 local staff and 64 other members who come from contributing
countries which include Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
TIPH ATTACKS JEWISH RESIDENTS
The two incidents that brought TIPH into the headlines this year were
the slapping of a
ten-year-old and the puncturing of a car tire.
the slapping of a
ten-year-old and the puncturing of a car tire.
In July, a Swiss member of TIPH toured through a Jewish neighborhood with the
provocative Breaking the Silence group, something not allowed according to TIPH’s
charter. Video footage captured the TIPH member slapping a ten-year-old Jewish boy from
the local community in the face. TIPH sent the member back to his home country before
Israeli authorities could get involved.
provocative Breaking the Silence group, something not allowed according to TIPH’s
charter. Video footage captured the TIPH member slapping a ten-year-old Jewish boy from
the local community in the face. TIPH sent the member back to his home country before
Israeli authorities could get involved.
After the slapping incident, it was revealed that the previous summer, a TIPH
member was caught on camera puncturing
the tire of a vehicle belonging to a local Jewish family.
member was caught on camera puncturing
the tire of a vehicle belonging to a local Jewish family.
TIPH COMMITS BANK FRAUD
In December reports revealed that TIPH has also been accused of bank fraud
and other crimes. TIPH’s former chief procurement and financial officer Bennet Nygaard
Solum testified that “TIPH fails to meet its own code of ethics. It disregards Israeli
and Palestinian law in Hebron and prefers to protect its own members from any
allegations of wrongdoing.”
In his affidavit, Nygaard Solum admitted he had taken part of such cover-ups. “As the
financial officer, I investigated fraud allegations against three local employees who
were accused of drawing checks from the Arab Bank in Hebron. The case centered around
checks that were not delivered to a supermarket that was our main supplier,” Nygaard
Solum stated in an affidavit.
Local employees embezzled the money but “TIPH’s legal adviser instructed me not to
mention this incident in a hearing we had in 2011,” he said.
He also spoke of a 2009 previous fraud case which involved “incorrect sums in
procurement orders, which didn’t match what was actually received by the purchasing
department. For example, an invoice would say we ordered 40 [cartons of] milk but only
20 would arrive,” he said.
”The difference was divvied up between the local employee and the supermarket. The
procurement officer at the time knew about the fraud but didn’t report it to his
superiors, so not as to lose his job,” he explained.
Nygaard Solum stated that he knew of the incident in which a TIPH member punctured the
tire of Jewish resident’s car, and that “TIPH’s deputy commander lied to the police and
said he didn’t know the observer who did it, when, in fact, he did, in order to
protect TIPH.”
and other crimes. TIPH’s former chief procurement and financial officer Bennet Nygaard
Solum testified that “TIPH fails to meet its own code of ethics. It disregards Israeli
and Palestinian law in Hebron and prefers to protect its own members from any
allegations of wrongdoing.”
In his affidavit, Nygaard Solum admitted he had taken part of such cover-ups. “As the
financial officer, I investigated fraud allegations against three local employees who
were accused of drawing checks from the Arab Bank in Hebron. The case centered around
checks that were not delivered to a supermarket that was our main supplier,” Nygaard
Solum stated in an affidavit.
Local employees embezzled the money but “TIPH’s legal adviser instructed me not to
mention this incident in a hearing we had in 2011,” he said.
He also spoke of a 2009 previous fraud case which involved “incorrect sums in
procurement orders, which didn’t match what was actually received by the purchasing
department. For example, an invoice would say we ordered 40 [cartons of] milk but only
20 would arrive,” he said.
”The difference was divvied up between the local employee and the supermarket. The
procurement officer at the time knew about the fraud but didn’t report it to his
superiors, so not as to lose his job,” he explained.
Nygaard Solum stated that he knew of the incident in which a TIPH member punctured the
tire of Jewish resident’s car, and that “TIPH’s deputy commander lied to the police and
said he didn’t know the observer who did it, when, in fact, he did, in order to
protect TIPH.”
Also, in December one of TIPH’s confidential reports landed in the
hands of a reporter. Its contents were a scathing indictment of Israel, accusing it
of breaking international laws. Rather than shaming Israel, the report created a
backlash against TIPH over its bias.
hands of a reporter. Its contents were a scathing indictment of Israel, accusing it
of breaking international laws. Rather than shaming Israel, the report created a
backlash against TIPH over its bias.
TIPH MEMBERS KILLED IN TERRORIST
ATTACK
ATTACK
There has been tension between TIPH and the PA as well. On March 26, 2002 two
TIPH observers, Catherine Berruex of Switzerland and Turgut Cengiz Toytunç of Turkey
were killed in an ambush shooting by a Palestinian Arab gunman near Halhul, a city
adjacent to Hebron. Three members of TIPH were riding westward on the Trans-Judea
highway when they came under fire from short range, although their car was clear marked
with the letters TIPH.
TIPH observers, Catherine Berruex of Switzerland and Turgut Cengiz Toytunç of Turkey
were killed in an ambush shooting by a Palestinian Arab gunman near Halhul, a city
adjacent to Hebron. Three members of TIPH were riding westward on the Trans-Judea
highway when they came under fire from short range, although their car was clear marked
with the letters TIPH.
Huseyin Ozaslan, also from Turkey, who was injured in the attack, related
that he clearly saw the attacker, who was wearing the uniform of the PA’s security
forces and was carrying a Kalashnikov assault rifle. “We shouted that we are observers,
members of TIPH,” he said. “But he did not hear us and continued to shoot.”
On February 8, 2006 following an attack on their headquarters by rioting Palestinian
Authority residents, all TIPH observers were temporarily withdrawn from Hebron. TIPH
members began to resume their duties in April 2006. The TIPH headquarters is located in
the PA side of town and members interact regularly with PA
officials.
that he clearly saw the attacker, who was wearing the uniform of the PA’s security
forces and was carrying a Kalashnikov assault rifle. “We shouted that we are observers,
members of TIPH,” he said. “But he did not hear us and continued to shoot.”
On February 8, 2006 following an attack on their headquarters by rioting Palestinian
Authority residents, all TIPH observers were temporarily withdrawn from Hebron. TIPH
members began to resume their duties in April 2006. The TIPH headquarters is located in
the PA side of town and members interact regularly with PA
officials.
NOTES:
* Police
Report Implicates TIPH in Anti-Israel Activities and Violence; Leaders Call to Kick Them
Out
Report Implicates TIPH in Anti-Israel Activities and Violence; Leaders Call to Kick Them
Out
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