The present collection of documents covers the second half of the Netanyahu government. The documents selected for publication are intended to help the reader understand the many, diverse and complex factors that helped determine Israels foreign policy.
As in the past, the documents have been culled from many sources: The Government Press Office, the Information Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Library of that ministry, the web sites of both offices, the United States Cultural Center in Jerusalem, and daily newspapers.
The documents are printed chronologically. They appear, as much as possible, in their original language. Therefore, English and American spellings have been retained. There have been a few editorial changes, and those had to do with correction of minor errors, spelling mistakes, missing words and faulty punctuation. Wherever possible, the entire document is reproduced. If abbreviated, mention is made. As has been the custom in the past, an editorial note precedes each document to place it in the proper historic context.
The editor wishes to express his gratitude to the staff of The Government Press Office, the Information Division and the UN Library of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the American Cultural Center and the staff of the Israel Information Center for diligently looking after the production of this series.
Some of the volumes in this series can now be found on the Internet which will facilitate their use by a growing number of students of Israels foreign relations.
Meron Medzini
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
December 1999