In 1993, nine permanent check-points (mahsoum in Hebrew) were set up on the main access roads into Jerusalem, predating the Hamas policy of bus-bombs (which had responded to Baruch Goldstein’s 1994 massacre of 27 Palestinians while they prayed in the Ibrahimi Mosque or Cave of the Patriarchs, in Hebron). From April 1994 on, Jerusalem was permanently closed off: the nine checkpoints all were provided with infrastructure: watch-towers, lighting and strategically-placed cement blocks. From this time on, only persons with a card showing they were residents of Jerusalem (a blue card) could enter the city. Many Palestinians originally from Jerusalem, but living outside the municipal borders and therefore without a blue card, were forbidden entrance to their own city.

In December 1995, a new law was passed by the government of Shimon Peres which put holders of blue cards to a further test: they now had to prove (under threat that they would lose their card and their right to live in Jerusalem) that the centre of their life was within the city boundaries. In addition, this law was declared to be effective retroactively. And so, between 1995 and 2000, the authorities revoked 2,000 blue cards. Children whose names were recorded on the card of an adult whose card was taken back automatically lost their right to live in Jerusalem, too. However, after a decision by the Israeli Supreme Court in March 2000, this law is no longer in effect; but with the erection of the so-called “Jerusalem Envelope” or Wall, the issue has become - once again - critical.