Date of tip:  April 2002

Source: Gil-li Vardi, g.vardi@lse.ac.uk

Location: Tel ha-shomer military base, Tel Aviv 

How to get there: From Tel-Aviv central bus station, route 68 to Tel ha-shomer military base. It is also possible to take routes 35, 45 and 70 (from across Tel Aviv, see http://www.dan.co.il/ for bus services and maps information) to Tel ha-shomer station and then routes 2 or 3 to the military base. 

Language: Hebrew. Most of the staff speaks English. 

Getting started: All researchers are asked to fill the e-forms given at: 

http://www.archives.mod.gov.il/pages/request/request.asp?AR=1 (Hebrew only). 

A reply will follow the next day.

Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 7:30am-4:00pm. Researchers can use the reading room until 8:00pm for pre-ordered materials only.

General working conditions: All declassified archival materials open to the public is scanned, as well as all the materials still unopened that were declassified to your specific request. Researchers can use the archive’s website in order to browse through document lists, and also submit their requests to declassify materials still classified.

Every researcher is allocated a computer in the reading room on which he or she can read the scanned files. 

Consultation: There is no limit on the number of documents ordered.

Policy on technology: Laptops are permitted. Digital cameras and scanners are prohibited. 

Photocopy policy: There is no limit on photocopying. For prices see: http://www.archives.mod.gov.il/pages/MISC/z-sherut-prices.asp?AR=1

Be sure to ask for students fares. All copies are made by the archive staff and sent to you after a few days. Note: You can ask for a CD rather than hard copies. 

Particularities: There is no cafeteria in the archive itself. Rather, researchers and visitors can use the military base’s cafeteria. Coffee and light beverages machines are provided. 

How to apply for classified files: Use the above mentioned request form at:

http://www.archives.mod.gov.il/pages/request/request.asp?AR=1 

Otherwise, once you are there, you can ask the exceptionally attentive staff.