Police Primacy: Organizing Police Powers under the Palestinian Authority

Authors

Mikael Lohse, Ministry of the Interior, FinlandFollow

Author Biography

Dr. Mikael Lohse works as a Ministerial Adviser at the National Security Unit, Ministry of the Interior of Finland. Lohse has previously held various positions in the justice and security sectors. He has also served in two crisis management missions (ISAF and EUPOL COPPS). Lohse's research interests include security studies and national security law.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.15.3.2014

Subject Area Keywords

Governance and rule of law, Human rights, Law enforcement, National power, Palestine

Abstract

The Secretary of State established the Office of the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority (USSC) in 2005 to meet U.S. commitments under the Middle East Roadmap for Peace. USSC’s vision is to strive for a civilian-controlled, self-sustaining, affordable, and accountable security structure, focused on “police primacy”, operating within the rule of law while providing necessary law enforcement to safeguard the Palestinian people. This vision is far from accomplished: Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces continue arbitrary detention, torture, and use of excessive force. This article examines the wide applicability of police powers – premised as the main reason for chaotic law enforcement activities within the PA’s security forces – agency by agency, and by considering both laws in force and proposed draft legislation. The article ends with recommendations to institutionalize police primacy by means of regulation.

Recommended Citation

Lohse, Mikael. "Police Primacy: Organizing Police Powers under the Palestinian Authority." Journal of Strategic Security 15, no. 3 (2022) : 80-94.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.15.3.2014
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol15/iss3/5