ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE THREE PALESTINIAN INSTITUTIONS IN EASTERN JERUSALEM THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED POLICE WARNINGS
(Communicated by Police Foreign Press Liaison)
On Monday, 28.08.95, following directives from Police Minister Moshe Shahal, three Palestinian institutions in eastern Jerusalem were warned that the Police Minister intended to issue closure orders against them if they did not cease operations and close within 96 hours.
After the three institutions appealed against the Police Minister's decision, it was decided to allow them to sign binding declarations which would enable the Police Minister not to exercise his authority as mentioned above.
A short time ago, the Managing Director of the Supreme Palestinian Health Council signed a declaration which states, inter alia, that the Council is not, and does not see itself as, an organization of the Palestinian Authority, and does not operate on its behalf, or in its name. Similarly, the declaration stipulates that the Council is not economically dependent on the Palestinian Authority, and that there are no financial links between them. The declaration also stipulates that the Council's employees do not receive their salaries from the Council's outside financial sources, and report neither to the Palestinian Authority nor to any of its bodies.
Jerusalem, 1 September 1995
CHAIRMAN OF PALESTINIAN BROADCASTING AND TELEVISION AUTHORITY SIGNS DECLARATION CEASING ACTIVITIES IN JERUSALEM
Today, Friday, 1.9.95, Radwan Abu Ayash, chairman of the Palestinian Broadcasting and Television Authority signed a declaration to cease activities in Jerusalem. The declaration was signed following a directive issued to it by Police Minister Shahal on 28.8.95, in which he stated that he intended to operate in accordance with the authority invested in him by legislation for implementing the 1994 Gaza Strip and Jericho Agreements and close the Palestinian Broadcasting and Television Authority in Jerusalem.
The declaration, presented to the Minister in accordance with his request, and thereby avoiding execution of the directive, said, that with its signing, the Palestinian Broadcasting and Television Authority will operate its authority only in its offices located in Ramallah, Jericho, and Gaza.
In addition, it was declared in detail that the Palestinian Broadcasting and Television Authority is not operating its authority and is not establishing a representative office in its name or on its behalf in Jerusalem, in accordance with the above mentioned law.
The declaration obliges Abu Ayash to prevent activities forbidden it by the above law, and acknowledges that if he does not uphold aspects of the declaration he signed, the Palestinian Broadcasting and Television Authority should expect the directive to be executed by Minister Shahal.
Jerusalem, 3 September 1995
PALESTINIAN STATISTICS BUREAU TO CLOSE OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS IN JERUSALEM
This afternoon (Sunday), 3.9.95, Dr. Hassan Abu Libdeh, head of the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics, presented Police Minister Moshe Shahal with a signed declaration, in which he made a commitment that his Jerusalem office would not carry out any official functions.
Abu Libdeh further declared that "the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics neither performs any official function, nor operates an office, or has an office operate on its behalf, in Jerusalem," and that his Jerusalem office would only serve his personal needs, without any direct link to the Palestinian Bureau of Statistics. Abu Libdeh also emphasized in his statement, that he is aware of the fact that, should the terms of the statement not be upheld, the steps to close the office will be initiated again.
The declaration was signed following the warning sent to Abu Libdeh, on 28.8.95, in which the Police Minister informed him of his intention to act within the framework of his authority, and to close the office if its activities linked to the Palestinian Authority are not stopped.
Following the signing of the declaration, the Police Minister will not carry out his warning, and issue a closure order.