Until 1967, the neighborhood of Bir `Ona was under the jurisdiction of the adjacent city of Beit Jala/West Bank. In 1967, Israel annexed the neighborhood to Jerusalem and began the construction of Gilo settlement on the hill-top above Bir `Ona. The residents, some 50 families, refused to accept the blue Israeli ID cards issued to the Palestinian residents of occupied Jerusalem in accordance with the instructions received from the PLO, who, at that time, regarded this position as a means to fight the Israeli occupation.  
The fact that their lands had come under the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem municipality while the people held West Bank ID cards, has caused severe hardship: If a resident of Bir `Ona applies for a building permit at the Jerusalem Municipality, his request is refused, because the area has not been zoned. Thus many families received demolition orders against their homes, even if they were built before 1967. If the residents apply for a building permit at the Beit Jala municipality, they are informed that they do not fall under its jurisdiction.  
These problems have been aggravated since the imposition of the permanent military closure of Jerusalem: Bir `Ona residents are not issued entry permits to the city, although they live in the city; Israeli soldiers frequently erect checkpoints in the neighborhood and stop people walking in the streets. When they see their West Bank ID cards, they take them away and fine the holder US $ 150 for entering Jerusalem illegally. This happens to both residents of Bir `Ona and visitors who can access the neighborhood directly from the West Bank.  
Due to this hardships, several Bir `Ona residents have changed their previous position of not accepting Jerusalem ID cards - a position also abandoned by the political leadership - and applied for ID cards on an individual basis. Finally, in September 1996, they organized in the framework of a residents committee which requested Atty Lea Tsemel to represent them in their demand for a zoning plan for their neighborhood. The Alternative Information Center was asked to assist the residents in obtaining Jerusalem IDs and 14 cases were filed for legal procedures by the AIC Project for Palestinian Residency & Refugee Rights.