PERF Plays Role in Unprecedented Middle East Policing Project
On August 21, Israeli Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino and
CBS News This Morning “Inside rare Middle East cooperation” August 21, 2013, News article and video Israel's police commissioner announced Wednesday he's been secretly meeting with his Palestinian and Jordanian counterparts as part of a joint effort to strengthen the rule of law in the region. CBS News senior correspondent John Miller, who has been a top official with the FBI, the New York Police Department, and the Los Angeles Police Department, called the announcement "a remarkable morning in Israel." The effort was put together by what Miller characterized as a "quiet police think-tank in Washington," the Police Executive Research Forum. Miller explained, "Chuck Wexler, the executive director, said, 'We work with both of these police agencies over there, but why can't we get them together?' "
The Washington Post "Israeli, Palestinian police may form joint patrols" August 21, 2013 Israeli and Palestinian police officers could soon find themselves on joint patrols in search of reckless drivers and other criminals if plans revealed Wednesday by the chief commissioners of both forces are endorsed by their leadership… The two most senior officers of both police forces, alongside their Jordanian counterpart, revealed that they have been meeting secretly over the past year and a half under the auspices of the Police Executive Research Forum, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization.
"Davis helps Mideast police counterparts" August 22, 2013 Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis participated in talks with high-level Palestinian and Israeli police officials in the West Bank this week, part of an 18-month effort to increase cooperation between local police agencies in the region… The meetings were spearheaded by Jordanian officials and the Police Executive Research Forum, a Washington, D.C., think tank that advises law enforcement agencies around the world.
Israel Hayom “Israeli and Palestinian police chiefs pledge deeper cooperation” August 22, 2013, News article and video Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian police chiefs concluded a three-day summit in the West Bank city of Jericho on Wednesday, lauding progress in cooperation and pledging to conduct more joint crime-busting activities. The police chiefs of Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan held three meetings in the past 18 months, joined by U.S. police chiefs from different states, to upgrade policing strategies in the region. http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=11527
The Daily Beast “Why Joint Palestinian-Israeli Police Patrols Are Good for Peace” August 23, 2013 It’s not peace. It’s a long way from peace. But joint Palestinian-Israeli police patrols have the potential to improve real people’s lives, right now—and without such steps, any hope for peace will crash and burn. |
Palestinian Police Major General Hazem Atallah announced that for 18 months they have been holding unprecedented meetings to discuss joint projects on public safety issues in the Middle East. PERF and the nation of Jordan played a key role in facilitating these meetings. Jordan's Minister of the Interior Hussein Al-Majali (formerly Director General of Public Security) was involved from the first days of the initiative, and the new Public Safety Director Tawfiq Tawalbeh is continuing Jordan's leadership role. Also supporting the initiative were PERF President and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, Retired Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan, Chief Terry Gainer, U.S. Senate Sergeant at Arms, Las Vegas Sheriff Douglas Gillespie, NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly, and PERF Executive Director Chuck Wexler.