The department handles the declassification of documents held in the Israel State Archives according to the Archives Law, the regulations on viewing archival material deposited in the Israel State Archives and the criteria approved by the ministerial committee for permission to view classified archival records.

The declassifying unit decides on and conducts declassification processes for classified archival material, coordinates the applications of researchers and professional staff and ensures that all processes are carried out in line with the law and the rules and regulations.

The principles behind decisions on declassification are based on the need to achieve a balance between the values of freedom of research and the public's right to know and the need to safeguard national security and Israel's foreign relations, as well as to safeguard the privacy of the individual.

According to the Archives' regulations, declassification is carried out by the agency depositing the material, in consultation with the State Archivist. Thus the declassification unit is comprised mainly of experienced veteran employees from various government ministries such as the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israel Police.

Declassification activities focus first and foremost on archival record groups containing classified or sensitive documents on security and foreign affairs: stenographic records  of government sessions and ministerial committee meetings; minutes of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee; the Prime Minister's Office; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Public Security and the Israel Police.
Read more about records that have been declassified.


Low-sensitivity archival documents of government agencies or local authorities are made available to the public on a regular basis, according to the timeline stipulated in the regulations.