[00:00.68]Most Palestinians living in East Jerusalem [00:03.88]want the area to become the capital of a future Palestinian state. [00:08.96]So, for many years, Palestinians there [00:12.12]have rejected the idea of becoming Israeli citizens. [00:16.84]But, that situation is changing. [00:20.00]Today, more and more Palestinians are seeking Israeli citizenship. [00:25.36]Many say they do it because they feel they must. [00:29.72]The Reuter news service spoke with one Palestinian teacher [00:33.68]who asked not to be identified. [00:36.72]She said, "I have a bad feeling [00:39.48]because I would like to have the passport of my country [00:42.92]as a Jerusalemite, as a Palestinian. [00:46.40]So I should have a Palestinian passport. [00:50.04]But unfortunately, I cannot get one. [00:53.12]Instead, I got something that will only connect me more to Jerusalem." [00:59.04]Some Palestinians say that full citizenship [01:02.40]will help them get better jobs and other benefits. [01:06.24]Others disagree, like Ghassan Nofal, of East Jerusalem. [01:11.36]He said, "For someone who has children...a house, a business and all these things, [01:17.76]the citizenship could never help. [01:20.12]If they give us a passport and take away our IDs, [01:24.00]it is the same for me." [01:25.94]It is not all about benefits. [01:29.36]The homes of some Palestinians have been separated from the rest of Jerusalem [01:34.36]for the past 10 years. [01:36.49]Israel built a wall around them [01:39.24]after a number of suicide bombings. [01:42.16]Those Palestinians fear they may lose Jerusalem residency as a result. [01:48.20]Israel's Interior Ministry keeps records of Palestinian passport applications. [01:55.04]Reuters says there were 434 passport requests [02:00.16]for the year 2012-2013. [02:03.52]Israeli officials approved 189 of them. [02:08.24]The news agency said most of the rest are still being processed. [02:13.27]Amnon Ramon is a researcher [02:16.44]at the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies. [02:21.04]He said, "We are indeed witnessing an increase in the number of East Jerusalemites [02:27.40]who have permanent residency status in the state of Israel who are seeking Israeli citizenship. [02:34.88]The question of how big this increase is - is debatable." [02:39.57]Palestinian officials pushing for a state that would include East Jerusalem are concerned. [02:46.24]Khalil Tafakji is a former member of the Palestinian negotiating team. [02:52.72]He said, "There is a big risk that if the situation continues, [02:57.68]what will the Palestinians negotiate about? [03:01.00]They want to negotiate about land [03:03.56]- they already lost the land. [03:05.82]They want to negotiate for the population [03:08.80]and the population is being lost." [03:12.36]The demographic effect could be even wider, they argue, [03:16.16]in considering the future children of Palestinians who become Israeli. [03:21.32]Those boys and girls will be born Israeli citizens. [03:25.88]Officials in Jerusalem deny that the demographics will affect [03:30.20]Israel's negotiations with Palestinians. [03:33.28]I'm Jim Tedder.