Jerusalem: A Closed City
Jerusalem, a city of profound cultural and historical significance, has been largely closed off to millions of Palestinians since Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem in 1967. Most Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza are barred from entering the city unless they obtain rare Israeli permits, while only those with Israeli IDs can freely access it. This closure, enforced through checkpoints, the Separation Wall, and a strict permit regime, has severed Jerusalem from its Palestinian roots, restricting access to its religious, cultural, and economic centers. Over time, Israel has intensified these measures, turning Jerusalem into a segregated city where freedom of movement is a privilege for some and a distant dream for most Palestinians, while Jewish Israelis face no such restrictions. This system reflects Israel’s broader strategy to cement control over Jerusalem and isolate it from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territories.
This entry is original published by My Jerusalem Story .
