First U.S. cadets graduate from U.S.-financed Palestinian security academy
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
RAMALLAH — The Palestinian Authority's first security academy has expanded operations.
The PA security academy, located in the West Bank town of Jericho, has graduated its first cadets. On June 21, 140 cadets marked the end of a training course financed by the United States.
This marked the first course by the security academy in the West Bank, funded by donor nations to the PA. Until the graduation, training for PA officers took place mostly in Egypt and Jordan.
The Jericho security academy contains trainers from Britain and Jordan. The United States oversees operations of the facility.
Officials said the academy was planning a series of courses. They included basic training, advanced skills in assault, law enforcement and investigation.
The graduation took place on the eve of an international conference in Berlin to finance PA security. Officials expect the PA to receive at least $187 million in pledges on Tuesday at the end of the one-day conference, expected to attract 40 states.