Israel and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) on Monday signed an agreement in Jerusalem regarding the mandate of international observers in Hebron, local daily Ha'aretz reported.
The agreement represents the first deal signed between Israel and the PNA since their renewal of civilian and security relations this July, and is the first official agreement on the role of the observers in Hebron since the beginning of the second Intifada in September 2000, the report said.
The Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) is an organization that was called for by the Israeli government and the PNA in 1997 to support them in their efforts to improve the situation in Hebron.
TIPH monitors the situation in Hebron and records breaches of international humanitarian law, the agreements on Hebron between Israel and the PNA, and human rights, in accordance with internationally recognized standards.
It presents its findings to the Palestinian and Israeli authorities as well as to its six member states, namely Norway, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Denmark and Sweden.
Every six months the Israeli government and the Palestinian authority decide if they want to renew the mandate of TIPH and - accordingly - sign an extension of the agreement.
The two sides agreed that TIPH should be the neutral witness on the ground who monitors and reports on the situation. TIPH personnel has no military or police functions and does not intervene in disputes, incidents or activities conducted by the Israeli or Palestinian side.
Source: Xinhua
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