German delegation meets Palestinian police chief in Jenin

JENIN — Palestinian police director general Allam al-Sakka and German delegation head General Olaf Lindner discussed ways to strengthen German support for the Palestinian police during a visit to Jenin Governorate on Tuesday, according to Alfajer TV.

The two men began the visit by meeting Governor Kamal Abu al-Rub, heads of security agencies in the governorate, and Fatah secretary in Jenin Arafat al-Qandil, along with representatives of civil peace committees. According to Alfajer TV, they were briefed on the security situation in the governorate and the difficult conditions in which the security services work.

Al-Sakka said the partnership with Germany was important. He thanked the German government for its ongoing support, which he said had helped build police stations, supply equipment and vehicles, and raise training capacity over the past years. According to the report, he said police would continue to work on public order, civil peace, crime prevention and the protection of citizens and their property in Jenin and across the governorate.

Lindner praised the work of the Palestinian police and security institutions despite what he described as complex security conditions in the governorate. He confirmed that support for police efforts to maintain security and public order would continue, according to the report.

The delegation toured the Jenin city police station, where it reviewed operations and needs. It also visited the headquarters of the special police unit and the Jenin reform and rehabilitation centre at Burqa, according to the same report.

During the visit, the officials met representatives of institutions and community groups. These included Jenin mayor Mohammed Jarrar, the head of the chamber of commerce Ammar Abu Bakr, the head of the popular committee of the Jenin camp Mohammed al-Sabbagh, and civil society organisations. Police development officials and the governorate police director also took part, according to the report.

It is not clear from the source material whether any new funding, equipment or agreements were announced during the visit. The report does not give figures for the scale of German aid.

Background

Alfajer TV reported that German support has helped the Palestinian police over several years. The report did not give details of specific projects or dates beyond the past years.

Jenin Governorate has seen repeated security operations and armed clashes in recent years, and the report describes the security services as working under exceptional conditions. The source material does not give further details of the current security situation in the city.