JARUSALEM
Turkish police officers who serve in the Temporary International Presence in the city of Hebron (TIPH) in Palestine have won the hearts of Palestinians with their professionalism.
Speaking to AA correspondent TIPH's Head of Mission, Oddvar Midtkandal, said that he was grateful with Turkish police staff's performances.
Stating that 10 Turkish officers have been serving for the mission since 2008, "Turkish policemen are professionals who do not let their emotions control their tasks. We demand Turkey to support the mission with more officers who can speak Arabic," said Midtkandal.
Midtkandal also stated that the Turkish policemen were gaining sympathy from Palestinians when they were out on patrol in the city.
The TIPH was first established in 1994 after a massacre during the holy month of Ramadan, in which 29 Palestinians were killed by a 'fanatic' Jew. The United Nations Security Council condemned the massacre in UN Security Council Resolution 904, and called for a temporary international presence in Hebron. On March 31, 1994, representatives of the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Israeli government signed an agreement requesting Italy, Denmark and Norway to provide observers to form a Temporary International Presence in the city of Hebron. The first TIPH mission began on May 8, 1994.
69 staff from 6 countries are currenty assigned at the mission.
