ABSTRACT
The present chapter sheds a new light on the Israeli Or Commission and civil society’s involvement in its proceedings by examining its process and outcomes from the perspectives of transitional justice and historical dialogue. The Commission was mandated to investigate the October 2000 lethal clashes between the Israeli police and Palestinian citizens of Israel. But it went beyond its mandate and addressed various dimensions of historical injustices suffered by Israel’s Palestinian citizens, starting with the 1948 Nakba. Based on an analysis of its report and other documents, the chapter argues that the Commission’s acknowledgment of historical injustices – and recommendations for their reparation – was meant to foster conditions for equality and reconciliation between Jews and Palestinians in Israel, thus promoting goals often associated with transitional justice and historical dialogue. This is despite the lack of political will or political opportunity in Israel to promote reconciliation through addressing historical injustice. The chapter also suggests that the Commission’s approach was to a great extent encouraged by the NGO “Adalah”, which used the proceedings as a platform for presenting claims and concerns of Israel’s Palestinian community. By examining the Or Commission and Adalah’s role from these perspectives, the chapter contributes to attempts to understand the manifestations and potential of transitional justice and historical dialogue in ongoing conflicts and the role of civil society in this regard. It also considers lessons learned for mass atrocity prevention.
