For millions of Palestinians, Jerusalem is a closed city. Entry is largely forbidden and only occasionally allowed for brief, limited periods with an entry permit granted at Israel’s behest. Only holders of Israeli IDs (whether Jerusalem residents or Israeli citizens) have the right to enter the city, and even they must pass through checkpoints. This study explores how closure has barred generations of Palestinians from experiencing the cultural and historical nexus that served as the region’s hub for hundreds of years. Since checkpoints have also been installed within the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, closure also imposes grave hardships on Palestinian Jerusalemites with Israeli permanent-resident IDs who live on the “other” side of the checkpoints.
