Many Palestinians have left their homes in the autonomy, as a result of the warfare, and are trying their luck abroad. The Associated Press reports on the phenomenon, noting that some 300 people from Bethlehem alone have left in the past months. Civil Administration officials reject Palestinian claims that the Israeli encirclements are designed to cause Palestinians to leave. In Jewish towns in Yesha, on the other hand, a steady increase in population has been noted in the past months.