Thus, the TIPH Mission is here to assist the two sides in carrying out their jointly expressed will to maintain normal life in Hebron with the purpose of safeguarding the Palestinians. The Jewish inhabitants are not mentioned in the mandate. TIPH may base its reporting on internationally recognized human rights standards, an aspect that induces the observers to closely monitor the treatment of civilians by military and police personnel, be they Israeli or Palestinian. The City has earned the reputation of being a hot spot of violence, riots and extremism on both sides. Consequently, tension is constant, confrontation common place and violence latent - just beneath the surface.
Sudden outbursts occur time and time again.
Stone throwing, if not a daily event, is common place, instigated by Palestinian youths, directed at Israeli soldiers, who at times react by firing back rubber coated metal bullets back, which may cause serious damage and even death . There are also a number of individual confrontations, usually between Palestinians and Jewish settlers. Harassment by Jewish settlers against their Palestinian neighbors without the Israeli Police reacting in defense of the Palestinians. Palestinians are frequently checked and detained by Israeli soldiers in ways that cause much consternation, resentment and anger. Such incidents can quickly turn very dramatic.