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Agreement on Temporary International
Presence in the City of Hebron
January 21, 1997
Pursuant to Article VII of
Annex I of the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip, dated September 28, 1995 ("the Interim Agreement"), which
deals with the redeployment of Israeli military forces in the City of Hebron
and provides that there will be a Temporary International Presence in Hebron,
Israel and the PLO agree as follows:
1. A Temporary
International Presence in Hebron (hereinafter "TIPH") is hereby
established. It will supersede the existing TIPH operating under the Agreement
on the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron, dated May 9,
1996. It will be stationed in and operate within the City of Hebron as
delineated on map No. 9 attached to the Interim Agreement. In all its
activities, the TIPH will relate to Hebron as one city. As detailed in
paragraph 5 below, the TIPH will assist in monitoring and reporting the efforts
to maintain normal life in the City of Hebron, thus creating a feeling of
security among Palestinians in the City of Hebron. The organizational
structure, operational guidelines, logistics, support, and privileges and
immunities of the TIPH shall be in accordance with the modalities on the
establishment of the TIPH concluded by the participating countries with the
agreement of the two sides.
2. The two sides
shall request Norway, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey to provide
180 persons as TIPH personnel. Norway shall be requested to coordinate the
establishment and activity of the TIPH. The number of on-duty observers at any
given time and changes in the composition of the TIPH shall be with the consent
of both sides.
3. TIPH personnel
shall have no military or police functions, nor will they interfere in
disputes, incidents or the activities of Israeli security forces or the
Palestinian Police.
4. In order to
facilitate the carrying out of TIPH tasks, a building will be chosen in Hebron
as a seat for the TIPH.
5. The tasks of the
TIPH personnel will be:
a. to promote by
their presence a feeling of security to the Palestinians of Hebron;
b. to help promote
stability and an appropriate environment conducive to the enhancement of the
well-being of the Palestinians of Hebron and their economic development;
c. to observe the
enhancement of peace and prosperity among Palestinians;
d. to assist in the
promotion and execution of projects initiated by the donor countries;
e. to encourage
economic development and growth in Hebron;
f. to provide
reports as set out in paragraph 7 below; and
g. to coordinate its
activities with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities in accordance with
paragraph 7 below.
6. The development
projects referred to in paragraph 5.d above will be identified by the Hebron
municipality and the relevant Palestinian ministries in cooperation with the
member countries of the TIPH.
7.
a. Representatives
of the TIPH shall be situated at the District Coordination Office
("DCO") in Har Manoah/Jabel Manoah and may also be present at the DCO
sub-office in the City of Hebron, in order to coordinate TIPH activity with
both sides. The TIPH representatives shall be equipped with the necessary means
of communication to enable direct and immediate contact with the TIPH
Headquarters and field observers.
b. A Joint Hebron
Committee shall be established comprising the Israeli Military Commander and
the Palestinian Police Commander of the Hebron District, the Israel and
Palestinian heads of the Hebron District Civil Liaison Office, and a
representative of the TIPH. This committee shall receive reports from the TIPH
on specific events and shall deal with any issues arising from the presence and
activity of the TIPH which cannot be dealt with by the DCO. The committee shall
meet on a weekly basis, or on the request of any of its members.
c. The Monitoring
and Steering Committee established pursuant to the Interim Agreement will
receive periodic reports from the TIPH. Each side of this committee will
designate one of its members to form a group together with representatives of
the TIPH in order to discuss matters of policy on a bi-weekly basis or on the
request of the TIPH.
8. While on duty the
members of the TIPH shall wear distinctive uniforms with a special emblem, as
agreed by the two sides. Their vehicles shall be marked with the same emblem.
TIPH members may carry pistols for self-defense purposes.
9. TIPH personnel
shall enjoy freedom of movement for the performance of their tasks within the
City of Hebron, as set out in the modalities referred to in paragraph 1.
10.
The TIPH and its members shall, in conformity with the modalities
referred to in paragraph 1, be accorded such privileges and immunities as are
necessary for the fulfillment of their tasks, and for the independent exercise
of their functions, including immunity of the TIPH premises and the right to
import operational supplies and equipment exempt from import taxes and duties.
All imported equipment, materials and goods exempted from import taxes and
duties will be re-exported or donated, at the conclusion of the mission of the
TIPH, according to applicable customs procedures agreed upon between the two
sides.
11.
The presence and activities of the TIPH personnel will be in accordance
with Annex I, Article VII and other
relevant provisions of the Interim Agreement and the Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron.
12.
The expenses of the TIPH will be borne by the participating countries.
13.
This Agreement shall enter into force on February 1, 1997 and shall
supersede the Agreement on the Temporary International Presence in the City of
Hebron, dated May 9, 1996.
14.
The TIPH may commence its operation immediately upon the approval of its
modalities of operation by the two sides, and shall continue to function for a
period of three months renewable for an additional period of three months
unless otherwise agreed between the two sides. With the consent of the two
sides, the TIPH may extend the period or change the scope of its operation, as
agreed
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