Jericho, Palestine – In a moment of pride and accomplishment, 22-year-old Tabark Frijat has successfully completed the Document Security Course – Basic Level, joining 15 other participants in an intensive training program. The course, held from April 20 to 23, 2025, at the General Authority of Borders and Crossings (GABC) in Jericho, aimed to enhance participants' skills in detecting fraudulent travel and identity documents.
The training was delivered by GABC staff who had previously received trainings from experts of the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, under the European Union Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Crossing Point (EUBAM Rafah). The initiative is part of a series of seven training sessions launched in the summer of 2024, in collaboration with the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
A key achievement of this program is the successful implementation of a Train-the-Trainer (ToT) approach. Six GABC staff members, having completed specialized training, led the document security course as instructors. Among the trainees was Tabark Frijat, a customs police officer stationed at the Al Karama Passenger Terminal.
“I have learned so much about investigative methodologies and how to contribute to Palestinian security by preventing illegal trade and other forms of cross-border crime,” said Frijat. “It was actually my childhood dream to work in the police forces and help protect my people”.
Frijat, originally from Ramallah, joined the customs service last year after completing her studies. Her role at the Al Karama Terminal involves conducting customs pre-checks for travelers entering the West Bank.
The training also promoted gender inclusion, with four female participants taking leadership roles during discussions. “What I really liked was the gender-sensitive approach which was inspiring for me”, Frijat noted.
The Al Karama Passenger Terminal in Jericho, managed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), serves as a critical gateway for travelers between the West Bank and Jordan. Despite technical limitations, such as reliance on manual document checks, the training has significantly enhanced GABC’s capacity to detect document fraud.
Mr. Anas Fakher Sadaqa from GABC’s International Relations Department, who also participated as a newly trained trainer, praised the experience which was outstanding for him. “I learned a great deal about document security features and identify forgeries, but more importantly, how to transition from trainee to trainer and lead a course myself,” he said.
Luciano Calaciura, EUBAM Rafah’s Integrated Border Management Expert, emphasized the broader impact of this initiative. “We are committed to supporting GABC in establishing a sustainable border management system aligned with international standards. Document security is a critical part of this mission,” he stated.
With approximately 1.7 million passengers passing through the Al Karama crossing in 2024 and an average of 4,750 travelers daily in 2025, the enhancement of document security capabilities marks a significant step toward safer and more efficient border management in Palestine.
