[In English:] Main Operations Room-

Reference no.: MSh/T/1615

Date: September 30, 2001 -

Emblem of the Palestinian Authority Police

The Palestinian National Authority

General Police Administration

Chief of Police

Stamp:

General Police Administration

General administration of the police directorate Bethlehem

[Added in handwriting:] Circular [unidentified signature]

October 1, 2001- Circular

[Attn:] Honorable [gentlemen], Districts Directorate and administrations [added in handwriting: in all districts]

The text:

Since the day it was founded, the Palestinian police has adopted a clear-cut patriotic line: establishing the rules of security and creating internal stability, while guarding the lives of [all] the citizens, upholding their rights, and abiding by the principle of the rule of law. The fulfillment of these duties by the [Palestinian] police is [the expression] of true patriotism, and it is not subject to any form of bargaining. For patriotism is not a child's play and it cannot be traded for the blood of infants and innocents; also, it cannot be used to justify interrupting the work of schools, nor bringing infants to clash sites nor exposing many of them to injuries, mutilations and disabilities, thus trading away their joy and their future for benefits granted by certain [internal] subversive elements and those who stand behind them.

To be sure, the police forces must act, in all matters that fall under their jurisdiction, to prevent any kind of incitement aimed at luring children out of schools, and prevent any suspicious elements from approaching [our] schools, for we consider any act of taking children out of schools [that is, for purposes other than purely educational ] to be pointless, unpatriotic and questionable —as indeed it is the police's duty to keep [all] the citizens safe. Furthermore, the police, in all matters that fall under its jurisdiction, must act to safeguard the institutions of the Palestinian Authority and [its] public installations, to prevent unauthorized demonstrations, and forbid [the movement of] vehicles equipped with loudspeakers if the operators of such vehicles call [upon the public] to participate in [illegal] demonstrations or in unauthorized mass gatherings.

Thus, the police will fulfill its national duty, uphold public order, instill fear [in questionable characters], enforce the law, and combat spies, traitors, and agents [i.e. collaborators with Israel] whose interest is to undermine [the stability of] the Palestinian Authority and, through their [illegitimate] actions, to sabotage [the Palestinian Authority's efforts to fulfill its duties]. [Added in handwriting:] All [of you] must be strict [about upholding the law], adhere [to the law] and force [your] authority [only] in accordance with the law.

Greetings,

Liwa' (Commissioner) Ghazi al-Jibali

Chief of Police

[signature]-