Joint Security Committee (JSC)
WORKING DRAFT – 11 MAY 2019
The Joint Security Committee (JSC) is a grouping of various Palestinian Authority security forces that include the General Intelligence Service (GIS), Preventive Security (PS) and Military Intelligence (MI).
Although initially envisaged as coordinating body between PA security forces, it has morphed into a fully-fledged security body operating outside of PA laws {?}. The JSC is headquartered in Jericho and is co-headed by [[?] Ziad Hab al-Reeh (in his capacity as head of the PS) and [?] xxx Abu Yemen [?] (in his capacity as deputy head of GIS).]
The JSC was established in 2006 through a presidential decree and focussed on internal security. It was tasked with removing illegal weapons from West Bank refugee camps following the end of the second intifada. The JSC has also targeted Fatah dissidents (including supporters of Mohammed Dahlan) and been accused of widespread human rights abuses and unlawful detentions.
Amnesty International reported that the PA's Preventive Security (PS) arrested Palestinian activist Issa Amro in September 2017 and then handed him over to the JSC where he was “allegedly tortured by interrogators from the Joint Security Committee”.
In June 2018 then Palestinian prime minister Rami Hamdallah ordered the JSC to be disbanded, but it still remains operational to this day.
(Ar: اللجنة الأمنية العليا)