Records on Middle East Peace Process: Israel, Gaza, West Bank, Settlements, and Occupied Territories

The materials in FOIA 2003-0261-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2003-0261-F contains Bush Presidential Records from the White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Alphabetical and Subject Files, the White House Office of Correspondence, the White House Counsels Office, the Council of Economic Advisers, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the National Security Council, the White House Office of Policy Development, the White House Office of Public Affairs, and the White House Office of Public Liaison. These files consists of letters of correspondence, memoranda, coversheets, notes, distribution lists, newspaper articles, informational papers, published articles, and reports from the public, the Congress, Bush Administration officials, and other various Federal agencies primarily regarding American Middle East peace policy and the United States' role in the many facets of the Middle East peace process. There are letters sent by the members of a variety of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Interest groups, as well as Senators, Congressman, and civilians expressing concerns and/or support for the Bush Administration's policies in relation to Israeli-Palestinian relationships, potential loan guarantees to Israel for the settlement of Jewish immigrants, other U.S. humanitarian efforts in the Middle East, and the highly debated issues regarding the division of Israel in Jerusalem, as well as the divisions around the Gaza strip, West Bank, and other designated areas considered "occupied territories" and "settlements". Unsolicited advice and various viewpoints are routinely provided in these correspondences in hopes of influencing various policies with Israel, as well as Bush Administration policies for peace in the Middle East. Often letters are accompanied by informational papers, newspaper articles, and other case study reports in support of the idea being presented. There are often replies offered by various White House offices defending the Bush administration's policy and giving general thanks for concern and inquiry. The drafting of these replies among the various executive branch offices generates routine administrative paperwork, such as the mentioned above memoranda, coversheets, notes, and distribution lists. These replies were most often written by various members of the State Department and the Office of Legislative Affairs and then were generated to the White House as "robo" letters to provide general, non-sensitive responses to the variety of issues related to the Middle East. Records released from the National Security Council files within this request primarily consist of profile and coversheets, which usually describe the various attachments regarding Middle East peace topics and policies discussed or implemented during the Bush Administration that have been closed for National Security classification or other FOIA exemptions. Materials closed for National Security may be requested for Mandatory Review every two years. Read less