The Oral Documentation unit in the Israel State Archives is part of the activities for the commemoration of Israel's late presidents and prime ministers. The unit creates and complements documentation on these personages in areas where, despite their importance to the history of the State of Israel, not enough relevant material has been found. The information garnered from the interviews serves for writing editorial notes in the volumes commemorating Israel's presidents and prime ministers, and also as a historical source for future research on these figures.

So far some 130 interviews, almost all in Hebrew, have been conducted on behalf of the Israel State Archives for the commemorative series and for other purposes: preserving the history of the Israel State Archives; recording the memoirs of ambassadors who served in the Israeli Foreign Service.

There are two types of interviews: "open" unrestricted interviews and confidential interviews, which are sealed at the request of the interviewee for ten years, either because the topics discussed are of a sensitive security nature or for protection of privacy.

Unrestricted interviews will be declassified by a team of declassifiers at the State Archives as is usual for declassifying documents on topics of foreign policy and security. After declassification the interviews will be made available to the public.

Confidential interviews will remain sealed according to the date determined. When the time for disclosure comes they will be subject to the above procedures. Confidential interviews will not be released to any other body until after declassification.