Monday August 14th 2007 the mandate of TIPH (Temporary International Presence in Hebron) was renewed in a joint Israeli-Palestinian ceremony taking place in a Jerusalem hotel. Israel was represented by the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Aaron Abramovitch, while the Palestinians were represented by Dr. Sa’eb Erakat, Head of the Palestinian Negotiations Affairs Department of the PLO. Present were also, among the others, representatives from the TIPH including the Head of Mission Mr. Sjursen, representatives from the TIPH countries Norway, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey, and several representatives from the press. The Norwegian Ambassador Mr. Jakken Biørn Lian, in his capacity as TIPH-coordinator, chaired the meeting and gave the opening statement, before giving both parties the opportunity to speak and then proceed to the signing of the document itself.
It was the first time in seven years that the parties renewed the TIPH-mandate through a joint and public ceremony. Since the outbreak of the Intifada in 2000 the two parties have renewed the TIPH mandate with the six participating countries separately and lately also via parallel documents. “This signing event is one of many signs of a possible turning of the tide in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Friends of Israel and the Palestinians are encouraged that the parties are again meeting to explore ways to retrieve the path to reconciliation”, said Mr. Biørn Lian in his opening statement. Abramovitch acknowledged in his statement Norway's role as a coordinator as well as the support offered by the other TIPH countries. He assured of Israel's continued support for the TIPH-mandate. Erekat stressed TIPHs role as a model for third party involvement in the Palestinian Territory.