Project profile — Empowering the Palestinian Security Sector

This project aims to improve the operation of the Palestinian security sector, through support to the Office of the Quartet (OQ), in a manner that improves the lives of Palestinians and helps ensure stability in the West Bank and Gaza. Project activities include: (1) helping the Palestinian Authority increase safety and security in Palestinian communities where security services have not previously been available; (2) strengthening the functioning of the Customs Police; and (3) monitoring and assessing relevant policies, actions or activities that relate to the security and justice sectors. The project is also assessing the ability of the Palestinian judicial police to serve warrants and execute judgments of the family courts, which impact women and children in particular.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) improved access of Palestinian security forces to Palestinian women and men residing in areas that have previously been inaccessible to them; (2) increased clarity of mandate of the Customs Police and better gender inclusiveness; and (3) better understanding of trends and needs in the Palestinian security sector.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (May 2024) include: (1) improved access of Palestinian Authority Security Forces to Palestinian women and men residing in areas that have previously been inaccessible to them, with “call and go” coordination protocols with the government of Israel, requiring mere notification of movement rather than requesting permission, which increased security services for 47,452 Palestinian Authority citizens residing in various Jerusalem suburbs, including Biddo and Jaba; (2) clarified the mandate of the customs police through a comprehensive report covering various areas, such as legislation, human resources, gender equality, ethics, professional standards and integrated border management, which were ultimately incorporated by the Planning Committee’s workstream; and (3) completed a comparative analysis of criminal justice procedures to better understand trends and needs in the Palestinian security sector and identify procedural openings for more efficient coordination, although the ongoing absence of formal cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli justice systems harms both sides and staggers efficient legal cooperation.