RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Israeli government is expelling the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) force, the civilian observation mission that has monitored the divided city in the southern West Bank for more than 20 years.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided Jan. 28 not to renew the TIPH mandate. “We will not allow the presence of the TIPH force that operates against us,” Netanyahu said in a statement to the press. Israel's Public Security Ministry accused the TIPH of cooperating with extremists and interfering with soldiers and police. 

The TIPH’s mandate is normally renewed twice a year, in January and June, by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israel. The TIPH reports to its five founding countries — Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Italy — as well as the PA and Israel, on breaches of agreements on Hebron, as well as on violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws.

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the PLO Executive Committee, said at a press conference Jan. 31 that he had personally signed the renewal of the TIPH mandate Jan. 27. He confirmed, however, that the TIPH received the Israeli government's decision to terminate its mission.