Palestinian Security Forces
Encyclopedia
The Palestinian National Security Forces, also referred to as the presidential guard are the paramilitary
forces of the Palestinian National Authority
(PNA). Since the signing of the Oslo Accords
, these forces operate in select areas
of the West Bank
and Gaza Strip
.
The Palestinian National Security Forces engages in various activities which includes among others, maintaining the security and protection of the Palestinian President
and Palestinian Leadership.
The Director General of the Palestinian National Security Forces is Major General Nasser Yousef. The total strength of these forces is estimated at 29,000, broken down as follows:
There are also small forces belonging to Coastal Police, Civil Defence, Air Force, Customs and Excise Police Force and the University Security Service.Eur, 2004, p. 935.
The Palestinian Security Force is financed by the United States
which, according to media estimates, pays an annual 3 million dollars for it.
Mohammed Dahlan
, was the first chief of the Palestinian Security Force in Gaza from 1994 to 2002. Dahlan was replaced by Rashid Abu Shbak. Jibril Rajoub
was the chief president of the Palestinian Security Force in the West Bank and was replaced in 2002 by Zuhair Manasra.
In June 2007 the Palestinian Security Force had a particularly significant role in the confrontations between Fatah and Hamas
. These confrontations resulted in the fall of the Palestinian Preventive Security Force headquarters in western Gaza City by Hamas
after bloody clashes.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
forces of the Palestinian National Authority
Palestinian National Authority
The Palestinian Authority is the administrative organization established to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip...
(PNA). Since the signing of the Oslo Accords
Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords, officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles , was an attempt to resolve the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict...
, these forces operate in select areas
Administrative divisions of the Oslo Accords
The Oslo Accords created three temporary distinct administrative divisions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip until a final status accord would be established...
of the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
and Gaza Strip
Gaza Strip
thumb|Gaza city skylineThe Gaza Strip lies on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Strip borders Egypt on the southwest and Israel on the south, east and north. It is about long, and between 6 and 12 kilometres wide, with a total area of...
.
The Palestinian National Security Forces engages in various activities which includes among others, maintaining the security and protection of the Palestinian President
President of the Palestinian National Authority
The President of the Palestinian National Authority is the highest-ranking political position in the Palestinian National Authority ....
and Palestinian Leadership.
The Director General of the Palestinian National Security Forces is Major General Nasser Yousef. The total strength of these forces is estimated at 29,000, broken down as follows:
- Public Security Force - 14,000 (6,000 in Gaza; 8,000 in the West Bank)
- Paletinian Civil Police Force - 10,000 (4,000 in Gaza; 6,000 in the West Bank)
- Preventive Security Force - 3,000 (1,200 in Gaza; 1,800 in the West Bank)
- General Intelligence Force - 3,000
- Military Intelligence Force - 500
- Presidential Security Force - 500
There are also small forces belonging to Coastal Police, Civil Defence, Air Force, Customs and Excise Police Force and the University Security Service.Eur, 2004, p. 935.
The Palestinian Security Force is financed by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
which, according to media estimates, pays an annual 3 million dollars for it.
History
As part of the Oslo Accords, the PNA was authorized to recruit and train a police force with paramilitary capabilities, but was not permitted to have a military force. Several bilateral agreements between the PNA and Israel regulate the size of the force, its structure, armament, and composition. The agreements provide Israel with the right to review potential recruits and withhold approval of those with a terrorist background. In practice, the PNA has not followed these agreements and Israel has not enforced them, with the result that the actual size and equipment of the force exceeds what was permitted under the agreements.Mohammed Dahlan
Mohammed Dahlan
Mohammed Dahlan born on September 29, 1961 in Khan Younis Refugee Camp, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip also known by the kunya or nom de guerre Abu Fadi is a Palestinian politician, the former leader of Fatah in Gaza...
, was the first chief of the Palestinian Security Force in Gaza from 1994 to 2002. Dahlan was replaced by Rashid Abu Shbak. Jibril Rajoub
Jibril Rajoub
Jibril Rajoub is a Palestinian political figure. He was the head of the Preventive Security Force in the West Bank until being dismissed in 2002. He was elected to the Fatah Central Committee at the party's 2009 congress...
was the chief president of the Palestinian Security Force in the West Bank and was replaced in 2002 by Zuhair Manasra.
In June 2007 the Palestinian Security Force had a particularly significant role in the confrontations between Fatah and Hamas
Battle of Gaza (2007)
The Battle of Gaza was a military conflict between Hamas and Fatah that took place between June 7 and 15, 2007 in the Gaza Strip. After winning Palestinian legislative elections in 2006, Hamas and Fatah formed the Palestinan authority national unity government in 2007, headed by Ismail Haniya. In...
. These confrontations resulted in the fall of the Palestinian Preventive Security Force headquarters in western Gaza City by Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
after bloody clashes.
See also
- United States Security Assistance to the Palestinian AuthorityUnited States security assistance to the Palestinian AuthorityUnited States security assistance to the Palestinian Authority has been provided since the Palestinian Authority was established by the Oslo Accords in the mid-1990s. The security assistance was given on an ad hoc basis and often covert at the outset. Since 2005 the U.S...
- Palestine Liberation Army