Entry-Points to Palestinian Security Sector Reform

Security sector reform (SSR) is on top of the Palestinian reform agenda. Palestinians want effective and accountable security forces that respond to their security needs. For them, security sector reform is also necessary to advance Palestinian state-building. However, many political organisations and socio-economic challenges make change slow and difficult. Donors sometimes seek to influence the reform process in a direction that serves their own interests and overlook Palestinian needs. Palestinians have their own ideas about reforms that are needed, but often too little is known about what these are.

This book seeks to give a voice to the Palestinians, the intended beneficiaries of security sector reform. Palestinian security experts and practitioners propose concrete changes in the legal framework, the structure of the security forces, the mechanisms for oversight and accountability, and the management of armed groups. By highlighting various entry-points for security sector reform, this collection of Palestinian perspectives is a contribution to a better understanding of Palestinian needs and of the direction in which Palestinians would like to see their security sector evolve.

This book will be of interest to policy-makers, academics, experts and students specialising in Palestinian governance and reform. It will also be of interest for those concerned more generally with state-building and democratization in the Middle East.