Transitional Justice for Israel Palestine

Monash University's Castan Centre for Human Rights Law and the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation held a launch of Dr Jeremie Bracka's new book, Transitional Justice for Israel/Palestine: Truth-Telling and Empathy in Ongoing Conflict (Springer, 2022). At the event, the book's author and a panel of discussants shared their thoughts around this important publication.

Around the globe, diverse societies have pursued truth-telling, restorative justice and reconciliation to end conflict. Yet the language of transitional justice has been all but absent in Israel/Palestine. Until today, peacebuilding is framed in practical and territorial terms alone. What’s more, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has overshadowed justice for the Middle-East.

Rather than avoid questions of memory, the past and human rights, Bracka seeks to address how transitional justice could contribute to conflict transformation and accountability. The book covers the most important historical and legal issues facing Israel/Palestine today with a focus on civil societies in South Africa, Northern Ireland and Latin America.

Ultimately, Bracka designs an unofficial Israeli-Palestinian Truth and Empathy Commission (IPTEC) to address gross human rights abuses committed by both nations.

Dr Jeremie M Bracka is an Australian-Israeli human rights lawyer and academic at Monash University (Melbourne). He lectures in constitutional law, torts, human rights law, international criminal law and transitional justice. He is also an affiliate member of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law.

Discussants:

Dr Daniel Heller is the Kronhill Senior Lecturer in East European Jewish History at Monash University's Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation.

Professor Melissa Castan is the Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, and Associate Dean (Staffing) in the Law Faculty.

Dr Joanna Kyrikakis is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at Monash University and a member of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law. Her research focuses upon how laws might enable or preclude accountability and remedy for gross human rights abuses.

Caitlin Reiger is is a transitional justice and human rights specialist and CEO of the Human Rights Law Centre. She was Director of Strategic Policy and Research at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, after supporting the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria in the design of the Commission and its mandate.