Dear: 

The Israeli Government continues with its massive confiscation of identity cards of Palestinians living in Jerusalem in their pursuit of the Israelization of the city. 

There is a growing Palestinian Jerusalem Diaspora of those people who are being expelled from Jerusalem, the city of their birth, or there place of employment. The ominous implication of this transfer is a major loss of Palestinian property rights in Jerusalem in the future. 

Despite the many assurances of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that he had issued instructions to his interior minister to refrain from confiscating identity card from East-Jerusalem Palestinians, and that he officially informed many countries of these instructions, the policy continues at unprecedented levels, enclosed please find a copy of March 31, 1997 Israeli order to Palestinian family to hand over the identity cards and leave Jerusalem. 

It is obvious that this intended to prejudice the demographic nature of East-Jerusalem, and a reflection of the unilateral Israeli steps intended to preempt and prejudge the permanent status talks on Jerusalem, Settlements, Borders, Refugees and other issues, due to have been resumed on March 17, 1997. 

We would like to draw your attention to the statements of the "Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, who declared in March 30, 1997, "that there were no real plans to build for Palestinians in Jerusalem", he described Netanyahu's settlements on the issue as a mere declaration with no substance.  

Once again we urge your government to participate with us in putting an end to such Israeli practices, which a long with the practices of confiscating Palestinian land, building new settlements, expanding of the closure, houses demolition, non compliance with Agreements singed and continuation of the Unilateral steps, constitute major threats to all efforts to put the peace process back on track. 

Continuation of such Israeli policies and practices in bringing the region and its people back to violent confrontations and disasters, on out come that will be the sole responsibility of the Government of Israel. 

Yours Sincerely, 
Dr. Saeb Erakat  Head of the Palestinian Side of the  Steering and Monitoring Committee