Structure and Organization
Since February 1 2000, TIPH has adopted a new
structure. It is composed of three divisions
subordinated to the Head of Mission.
The Senior Management Group is composed of the
Head of Mission, the Deputy Head of Mission,
the Heads of Divisions, and Senior National
Representatives who are not in position as heads
of division. The Senior Management Group usually
meets three times a week in order to assist
the Head of Mission in running TIPH organization.
SMG members advise him on important decisions
that concerns operational, administrative and
security matters and review the performance
of TIPH.
Operations
Division
The Operations Division is the largest of
the three divisions within TIPH. It comprises
more than one half of the total TIPH personnel.
It has the responsibility for the observation
patrols and for the reporting activity. Patrols
of observers are permanently present in the
Area of Responsibility during day and night
shifts. Their number varies according to the
situation. The observers perform their duty
by car and, in certain areas, they also patrol
on foot.
The Operations Division co-ordinate the patrols
in the field and from the Headquarters. Contact
between the observers on patrol and with the
Headquarters is made by radio. Members of
this division man the radio and the switchboard.
Finally, this division carries some of the
the responsibility related to the mission's
security.
Staff
Division
The Staff Division has various tasks, among
them the production of the Weekly and Periodic
Reports. The Division incorporates Press and
Research Officers, whose role is to keep the
mission members up to date on the political
situation in the area, on a local, regional
and international level. They also produce
the Weekly Threat assessment and brief journalists
and other visitors on TIPH's role in Hebron.
They also organize lectures and meetings with
personalities from both sides to talk about
topics related to TIPH's work.
Liaison Officers are also part of the Staff
Division. They maintain contact with the Israeli
Defense Forces, the Palestinian Police Forces,
the Hebron DCO and DCLs, and the Hebron Municipality.
Finally, members of the
Staff Division engage in small-scale community
projects in order to support charitable work,
sports and culture. Throughout these activities,
they work to disseminate information on the
mandate and the work of TIPH with a view of
creating a mutual sense of confidence and
benefit between TIPH and the local population.
Support
Division
The Support Division deals mainly with administrative
matters and logistics. It incorporates several
offices such as personnel, finance, transport,
communication, procurement, building management
and information technology. It also includes
a medical officer.
The
Co-ordination of TIPH between the Member Countries
In the relationship between the TIPH contingents,
the decision-making authority lies with the
governments of the participating countries.
Consultations take place on a local level,
through Local Contact Group Meetings held
between TIPH's Senior Management Group and
representatives from the six countries' Embassies
and Consulate Generals. However, decisions
concerning TIPH's finance, organisation and
manning are taken in meetings attended by
delegates from the six capitals. These are
usually held every three months in the region,
or in one of the six countries, alternately.
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
has, according to the Agreement, the task
of coordinating TIPH activities between the
six countries.
Cost
Sharing
Each country covers all personnel costs directly
related to its mission members in TIPH, such
as salaries, allowances, insurance, personal
equipment and travel costs. Other costs in
connection with the participation in the mission
are divided pro rata.
Practical
matters
At the start of the multinational mission,
TIPH had 142 members. Since February 2000,
there are between 85 and 90 TIPH members in
Hebron, shared between the six countries.
The contingents provided by each country vary
in size.
The six countries’ governments recruit
the TIPH members within their respective countries,
according to the needs of the mission. More
than one half of the mission members have
police or military background. Many of the
TIPH members have participated in other international
mission work, mainly with the United Nations.
Additionally, TIPH has at its disposal Arabic
and Hebrew speakers. Some of them have degrees
in Middle Eastern Studies or have experience
of work in the region, while others are of
Middle Eastern origin. Around one quarter
of the TIPH members are women.
The TIPH headquarters is located in Ras Al-Joura,
in the northern part of Hebron. Two other
buildings in the same area are allocated as
living quarters for the TIPH members. The
TIPH members live in apartments, two to four
members in each, segregated by gender but
with mixed nationalities. A cafeteria (The
TIPH TOP Restaurant) has been set up in one
of the buildings.
The TIPH uniform is grey with blue armlets
marked with OBSERVER in English, Arabic and
Hebrew written in white on red. The uniform
is supplemented with a blue cap with the TIPH
logo, as well as blue vests or blue padded
jackets according to season. TIPH vehicles
are white with white diplomatic license plates
and marked with the TIPH logo on both sides
and on the hood.
Sources: Temporary
International Presence in Hebron |