Archivists assist Israel, Palestine.

• Author: Swartz, Nikki
• Position: UPFRONT

U.S. and Canadian archivists have hunched a project to help Israel and the Palestinians preserve their archives.

Allen Weinstein, the archivist of the United States, and his Canadian counterpart, Ian Wilson, met with officials of the Israel State Archives and the Palestine National Archives earlier this year.

"The purpose of these meetings was to discuss projects that would assist in the digitization of paper records of both Israel and Palestine that would ultimately document the joint heritage of people in the region," according to a statement. "They are also working with both institutions to develop archival training programs for their staff, and have received enthusiastic support from" U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice "and the State Department for these projects."

The announcement coincides with Israel's own plans to build a state archives museum in Jerusalem. The project is years away from fruition, but it, along with the U.S.-Canadian project, may help ensure that Israel's history will be preserved for and available to future generations.

Currently, Israel's State Archives are housed in a rented warehouse in Jerusalem. The collection includes 400 million pages packed away in cardboard boxes stacked 10-feet high on metal shelves that stretch 42 kilometers, according to The Jerusalem Post. The collection includes top-secret documents, including daily operational records of Israel's security agencies, which are locked down under armed guard in a room-sized safe.

The State Archives contain the most detailed records anywhere of...