On 15 May 1997, the Lobby for Palestinian Women’s Rights in Jerusalem in cooperation with the Follow-up Committee on Human Rights Violations in Jerusalem launched an independent survey on ID card confiscations in Jerusalem. Jerusalemites were called in press and TV announcements to fill a standard questionnaire available in various NGO offices in and around Jerusalem, as well as in the offices of the PA Legislative Council in al Ram. The initiative received much support by the local Palestinian press: al-Quds newspaper published the questionnaire free of charge, and NGOs are planning to approach the Jordanian press for similar cooperation. Moreover, the questionnaire has been disseminated via various NGO newsletters and magazines and can be found on internet (http://aic.netgate.net) 
NGOs aim - by means of this survey - to obtain an independent estimate of the scope of ID card confiscations in the city, and hope to expand the outreach of their legal counseling services. 

ID Card Confiscations - Official and Independent Figures 

Official Israeli figures: 
1996                               689*  
1-5/1997                         787**  
Total                            1,476 

Source: *Interior Ministry in Ha'aretz, 17-3-1997; **Interior Ministry in al-Quds, 5-5-1997 

Independent Figures (NGO Survey) 

Number of cases registered by 17 June 1997:    137 

These figures do not include minors who were also registered in the confiscated ID card of their parent (an average of three children per ID card).