But that same year, Israel introduced a three-tier permit system for anyone wishing to exit either area, whether for work or study. The West Bank contains six universities, offering subjects not available in Gaza's two higher educational institutions, the Islamic University and Al Ahzer University. As a result, some 1,300 Gazans currently study in the West Bank but the permit system has made the commencement, continuation or completion of studies virtually impossible. Birzeit University is the oldest university in the Occupied Territories and attracts the largest group of Gazans. But their number has been in sharp decline since the 1993 peace accord.
Criminal activity can be as little as holding a Palestinian flag during the Intifada.
With the card, an individual can apply firstly for a permit to travel across Israel and, secondly, for permission to reside in the West Bank. Application involves lengthy security checks and, frequently, one permit is granted while the second is denied, requiring the student to begin the whole procedure over again. Permits are repeatedly issued only after the semester has begun, or for periods which do not cover the complete duration of the course. This means that students can not enrol and that they miss the first semester. Once issued, permits are periodically cancelled following terrorist operations.