Israel State Archive
Encyclopedia
The Israel State Archives (Hebrew: גנזך המדינה) is the national archives of the State of Israel
. It is attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
It was established in 1948 and its operation is regulated by the Archives Law of 1955. The Israel State Archives and all of the archives in Israel are headed by the State Archivist. The Archives Law constitutes the legal, administrative and professional framework within which the archives of Israel are run. The rules and regulations accompanying the law grant the Archivist, and through him all employees of the Israel State Archives, the authority to instruct and supervise the management of archives and records in government ministries, local authorities and government corporations.
The Israel State Archives is located in Jerusalem. In 2007 a ministerial committee for the development of the Galilee and the Negev decided to transfer the storage facilities of the Archives to Arad.
The Israel State Archives contains documents, maps, postage stamps, official publications of the various government ministries, of the Knesset
, Israel's parliament, and the President
's Residence; stenographic records of government meetings from 1948 onwards; minutes of Knesset Committee sessions; records of governmental commissions of enquiry and legal documentation, including records of the High Court of Justice
and land registry records. In addition, the Israel State Archives holds many private archives which belonged to institutions and people of importance in the history of Palestine and Israel. It also houses a variety of audio-visual records, including films documenting events from the time of the British Mandate onwards, such as the trial of Adolf Eichmann
, audio recordings and video tapes with testimonies of central figures in Israel; audio recordings of speeches, Knesset sessions, ceremonies and many other events, as well as a collection of some 100,000 photographs.
The Archives holds the fundamental documents of the State of Israel, foremost of which is the Declaration of Independence
, the Law of Return
, the laws of the State and international agreements and treaties which the State has signed over the years, such as the Armistice Agreements with the Arab states, the reparations agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany, the peace treaties with Egypt and with Jordan, the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the so-called "Oslo Accords") and the exchange of letters with the PLO, and more.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is attached to the Prime Minister's Office.
It was established in 1948 and its operation is regulated by the Archives Law of 1955. The Israel State Archives and all of the archives in Israel are headed by the State Archivist. The Archives Law constitutes the legal, administrative and professional framework within which the archives of Israel are run. The rules and regulations accompanying the law grant the Archivist, and through him all employees of the Israel State Archives, the authority to instruct and supervise the management of archives and records in government ministries, local authorities and government corporations.
The Israel State Archives is located in Jerusalem. In 2007 a ministerial committee for the development of the Galilee and the Negev decided to transfer the storage facilities of the Archives to Arad.
Main responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the Israel State Archives are:- Gathering the archival records, in all formats, of state institutions, keeping them for posterity and making them available to the public in accordance with viewing regulations.
- Determining policy on keeping, or alternatively destroying, documentation in the State of Israel.
- Professional supervision of the operation of various archives in the country.
- Locating, registering and accepting for safekeeping private archives in the possession of state institutions or private citizens.
- Publishing the "Documents on the Foreign Policy of Israel" series.
- Publishing commemorative volumes in memory of Israel's late presidents and prime ministers.
- Publishing professional literature and a bibliography of Government publications.
The collections of the Archives
The Israel State Archives currently holds some 45 km. of shelf space of valuable records of the institutions of the State of Israel and of previous administrations in Palestine – from the Ottoman period (material from 1838 to 1917) and the British Mandatory period (1917 – 1948) – as well as collections originating with institutions of the Arab community in Palestine during these periods. These collections are a lodestone for researchers and serve everyone who is interested in the history of the various communities in Palestine and the State of Israel. Most of the post-1948 material is in Hebrew but a considerable portion of the earlier material, and some of the documents from the earlier years of Israel, are in English and other foreign languages.The Israel State Archives contains documents, maps, postage stamps, official publications of the various government ministries, of the Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
, Israel's parliament, and the President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
's Residence; stenographic records of government meetings from 1948 onwards; minutes of Knesset Committee sessions; records of governmental commissions of enquiry and legal documentation, including records of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
and land registry records. In addition, the Israel State Archives holds many private archives which belonged to institutions and people of importance in the history of Palestine and Israel. It also houses a variety of audio-visual records, including films documenting events from the time of the British Mandate onwards, such as the trial of Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Eichmann
Adolf Otto Eichmann was a German Nazi and SS-Obersturmbannführer and one of the major organizers of the Holocaust...
, audio recordings and video tapes with testimonies of central figures in Israel; audio recordings of speeches, Knesset sessions, ceremonies and many other events, as well as a collection of some 100,000 photographs.
The Archives holds the fundamental documents of the State of Israel, foremost of which is the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, the Law of Return
Law of Return
The Law of Return is Israeli legislation, passed on 5 July 1950, that gives Jews the right of return and settlement in Israel and gain citizenship...
, the laws of the State and international agreements and treaties which the State has signed over the years, such as the Armistice Agreements with the Arab states, the reparations agreement with the Federal Republic of Germany, the peace treaties with Egypt and with Jordan, the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the so-called "Oslo Accords") and the exchange of letters with the PLO, and more.
External links
- Prime Minister's Office Israel State Archive
- Israel State Archives website http://www.archives.gov.il/ArchiveGov_eng