Operation PROTEUS

Operation PROTEUS is Canada's contribution of 17 Canadian Forces members to the Office of the United States Security Coordinator (USSC) in Jerusalem.

The mission

The USSC has a mandate to encourage co-ordination on security matters between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and the efforts of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank to build security capacity. Designed to support Palestinian security sector reform as called for in the Roadmap for Peace in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP), the USSC’s mission was established in 2005. It comprises British, Canadian, Turkish and U.S. military and civilian personnel.

Task Force Jerusalem

Canadian Forces members deployed with Task Force Jerusalem under Op PROTEUS provide support and advice for: training of Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF); development of a PASF logistics capability; and construction of security infrastructure. They also facilitate co-operation with other Canadian government departments in areas that are not usual military concerns, such as borders and crossings, and movement and access issues.
Op PROTEUS is an important component of Canada’s broader engagement in the MEPP and the region as a whole. The Canadian Forces have been involved in the Middle East for more than 50 years, with substantial engagements in other missions in the region, including Operation JADE, Canada’s longest-running peacekeeping mission (also headquartered in Jerusalem), Operation CALUMET in El Gorah, Egypt, and Operation GLADIUS in the Golan Heights.

For more information on Canada’s role in the Middle East, please consult Canada and the Middle East Peace Process, a webpage on the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada website.