Following an extensive investigation into the policy of the Israeli National Insurance Institute (NII) and the National Sick Fund (Kupat Holim) by the Israeli Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), it was confirmed that persons who are defined as Jerusalem residents by the National Insurance Institute - even if they do not hold identity numbers - are entitled to state health insurance and services (see also ARTICLE 74/16 and 17). However, Palestinian families who were defined as residents by the NII - usually after a lengthy investigation - and then approach the East Jerusalem offices of the National Sick Fund (Kupat Holim) are turned back and fail to obtain health insurance. According to explanations provided to PHR, the reason is technical: the computer system of the National Sick Fund does not allow registration of persons who do not hold an identity number issued by the Israeli Ministry of Interior. PHR emphasizes that all offices of the National Sick Fund who refuse to accept such membership applications are violating Israeli law. It is upon the Sick Fund to provide for a rapid solution, especially since private Israeli insurance companies have since long been able to overcome this technical problem.