PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY CREATES A NEW ARMED FORCE

2 September 1996

On 31 August, the Palestinian Cabinet announced the creation of a new armed force to police university campuses. This new police force, created by decree by President Arafat and later announced by the Cabinet, was created principally in response to the raid of An Najah University on 30 March 1996, in which a large number of armed security forces stormed the university campus and wounded 12 students. At that time President Arafat announced that he would create a special guard to protect universities, in coordination with university administrations. This new armed force, however, contrary to President Arafat's assurances, is entirely in the hands of the Palestinian Authority.

It is currently unclear what exactly is the mandate for this new police force, other than to monitor and control activity on university campuses. With the creation of this new force, President Arafat has brought up the number of armed forces to eleven. They are:

Force 17

Mukhabarat (Palestinian Intelligence)

Military Mukhabarat (Palestinian Military Intelligence)

Coastal Police

Regular Police

Border Police

The New University Police

National Security Force

Special Security Force

Presidential Security

Preventative Security Services

LAWE - the Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment points out that security on university campuses is not normally a matter for a national police force. Matters of university security are internal university affairs. The creation of an armed force especially to monitor student activity creates a very dangerous precedent, and violates the right of academic freedom. The high number of security forces contributes to the police-state atmosphere already prevalent in areas under the control of the Palestinian Authority.

LAWE - The Palestinian Society for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment is a non-governmental organization, dedicated to preserving human rights through legal advocacy. LAWE is also an affiliate member of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights.