רשת מדעי הרוח והחברה

מקום: מרכז מינרווה לחקר שלטון החוק במצבי קיצון, אוניברסיטת חיפה
חדר 1013, בנין המדרגה, אוניברסיטת חיפה + זום
שעה: 15:45-14:15
שפה: אנגלית

From Trauma to Transformation: Transitional Justice and Constitution Making in Post-October 7 Israel

Dr. Sigall Horovitz and Prof. Michal Tamir
March 19, 2025 at 14:15-15:45
Hybrid event: Zoom and room 1013, Hamadrega building, University of Haifa

The October Seven Massacre, the Gaza War and the Judicial Reform Plan have intensified societal divisions in Israel and lack of trust in government. Adopting a formal constitution was proposed as a means for addressing the crisis. Israel is in dire need of a constitution. Its basic laws lack legitimacy, do not fulfil an integrative role, and have many lacunas. In the current circumstances, however, it seems unlikely that a constitution making (CM) process can be initiated. Furthermore, the extreme rupture in Israeli society calls for the kind of healing that constitution alone cannot deliver. The lecture will examine the idea that a transitional justice (TJ) process can help reduce social and political tensions in Israel. TJ processes have been applied around the world to promote reconciliation by acknowledging past wrongs and addressing them through judicial and non-judicial measures. TJ is sometime invoked in connection with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this lecture we will discuss its potential to address inner-Israeli cleavages. Many of these cleavages are fueled by victimhood perceptions, rendering TJ a relevant framework. If designed carefully, TJ processes could help reverse polarization and democratic backsliding in Israel while also satisfying rising demands for accountability. This could also foster conditions for effective and participatory CM processes which, in turn, would further consolidate the outcomes of the TJ process. TJ and CM processes share common goals and underlying principles. They can be mutually reinforcing and provide momentum for each other. We will discuss cases where TJ and CM processes were co-implemented, including Colombia and South Africa, and facilitate a discussion on the idea of combining TJ and CM frameworks to address the current crisis in Israel.
https://minervaxtremelaw.haifa.ac.il/2025/02/20/from-trauma-to-transformation

פרטי התקשרות:
מיכל בן-גל
bmichal@geo.haifa.ac.il

שולח/ת ההודעה:
מיכל בן-גל
bmichal@geo.haifa.ac.il