The Palestinians are aiming to create their own sovereign state comprising the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. In November 2012 the United Nations voted to raise the status of the Palestinian delegation to observer state.
Germany approves of resolving the Middle East conflict through negotiation and supports a two-state solution. In order for the Palestinian Authority to successfully conduct negotiations, the Palestinians have to be able to guarantee that they can ensure peace and security under democratic rule within their recognised borders. A key component of this is establishing a reliable civil police infrastructure and responsible security authorities.
Objective
The Palestinian civil police force has standardised police stations in selected pilot areas that operate efficiently in accordance with demands and are well maintained. Police actions are based on the rule of law, and they ensure security and order while respecting human rights.
Approach
During the programme’s first phase a plan was jointly developed by the Palestinian Ministry of Interior and the Palestinian civil police to build and equip Palestinian police stations. In total four stations and a training station were established. The German Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) has also given local partners additional advice and support on issues relating to specialised police training.
The second phase of the programme is concentrating on the efficient and sustainable use of these police stations. A standardised concept ensures that all stations are set up, organised in terms of functions and maintained in the same manner. EU co-financing will enable a further eight local police stations to be built and equipped.
Results achieved so far
The newly established police stations are being efficiently organised and used by the civil police force in the Palestinian territories. Stations are also being sustainably maintained. Practical working spaces and modern equipment are helping the police to feel highly motivated in their work and fulfil their public duties more effectively. The training measures undertaken by other stakeholders (including specialist police training provided by German partners and other initiatives by EUPOL COPPS) are helping to increase public trust in the police. In the medium to long term the population will benefit from having a professional police force acting in accordance with principles of the rule of law, and this will help to improve security and the supply situation in the region.