Compensation to Palestinian Refugees and the Search for Palestinian-Israeli Peace

A variety of contributors - Palestinian, Israeli, and international scholars -examine the topic of Palestinian refugee compensation. One of the core aspects of the Palestinian refugee question is that of compensation or reparations for Palestinian refugees forcibly displaced by the establishment of Israel. The Nakba saw the displacement of 85% of the Palestinian Arab population and the descendants of these displaced peoples numbers almost 5 million. Despite the gravity of the situation and the importance of restorative justice, many of the complex technical issues compensation would entail have not received adequate attention. Applying their expertise and looking at past examples of claims mechanisms, a rich variety of contributors - including Palestinian, Israeli, and international scholars, analysts, and former officials - examine the topic from an array of legal, economic, and political perspectives. Answering questions such as: How would property losses be recovered? What about displaced persons within Israel? What would the Israeli response be to reparations? The contributors cast new and important light on the way the issue has been approached in past negotiations, the structure of possible compensation regimes and potential challenges and obstacles to implementation. Foreword Acknowledgements 1. Introduction by Rex Brynen and Roula El-Rifai 2. Palestinian Negotiation Priorities on Reparations for Refugees - Leila Hilal 3. Compensation for Palestinian Refugees: an Israeli Perspective by Orit Gal 4. An Analysis of the Palestinian Refugees’ Right to Reparation under International Law with a Focus on the Right to Compensation by Lena El-Malak 5. The United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine’s Records on Palestinian Refugee Property Losses by Michael Fischbach 6. Israel’s Policy Regarding Palestinian Refugee Real Estate Holdings: Israel’s State Records by Roby Nathanson and Hagar Tzameret- Kertcher 7. In Search of Information About Refugee Property Ownership by Elia Zureik and Jaber Suleiman 8. The Value of 1948 Palestinian Refugee Material Damages: An Estimate Based on International Standards by Thierry J. Senechal and Leila Hilal 9. The Typology of Palestinian Refugee Losses in 1948: A Balance Sheet Approach by Atif Kubursi 10. Implementation of an Agreed Solution for Palestinian Refugee Claims: Learning from the Experience of Other Claims Mechanisms by Norbert Wuehler and Heike Niebergall 11. Gender dimensions of redress for the Palestinian refugees by Megan Bradley and Roula El-Rifai 12. Redressing Internally Displaced Persons in Israel by Megan Bradley 13. Linking Palestinian Compensation Claims with Jewish Property Claims against Arab Countries by Michael Fischbach 14. Palestinian Refugee Compensation: Connections and Complexities by Rex Brynen 15. Beyond Compensation: Reparations, Transitional Justice and the Palestinian Refugee Question by Anne Massagee Index Palestinian Negotiation Priorities On Reparations For Refugees / Leila Hilal -- Compensation For Palestinian Refugees : An Israeli Perspective / Orit Gal -- An Analysis Of The Palestinian Refugees' Right To Reparation Under International Law With A Focus On The Right To Compensation / Lena El-malak -- The United Nations Conciliation Commission For Palestine's Records On Palestinian Refugee Property Losses / Michael R. Fischbach -- Israel's Policy Regarding Palestinian Refugee Real Estate Holdings : Israel's State Records / Roby Nathanson And Hagar Tzameret- Kertcher -- In Search Of Information About Refugee Property Ownership / Elia Zureik And Jaber Suleiman -- The Value Of 1948 Palestinian Refugee Material Damages : An Estimate Based On International Standards / Thierry J. Senechal And Leila Hilal -- Palestinian Refugee Losses In 1948 / Atif Kubursi -- Implementation Of An Agreed Solution For Palestinian Refugee Claims : Learning From The Experience Of Other Claims Mechanisms / Heike Niebergall And Norbert Wühler -- Gender Dimensions Of Redress For The Palestinian Refugees / Megan Bradley -- Redressing Internally Displaced Persons In Israel / Megan Bradley -- Linking Palestinian Compensation Claims With Jewish Property Claims Against Arab Countries / Michael R. Fischbach -- Palestinian Refugee Compensation : Connections And Complexities / Rex Brynen -- Beyond Compensation : Reparations, Transitional Justice And The Palestinian Refugee Question / Anne Massagee. Edited By Rex Brynen And Roula El-rifai. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Intro -- Title page -- Copyright page -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Palestinian Negotiation Priorities on Reparations for Refugees -- 3. Compensation for Palestinian Refugees: An Israeli Perspective -- 4. An Analysis of the Palestinian Refugees' Right to Reparation under International Law with a Focus on the Right to Compensation -- 5. The United Nations Conciliation Commission for Palestine's Records on Palestinian Refugee Property Losses -- 6. Israel's Policy Regarding Palestinian Refugee Real Estate Holdings: Israel's State Records -- 7. In Search of Information about Refugee Property Ownership -- 8. The Value of 1948 Palestinian Refugee Material Damages: An Estimate Based on International Standards -- 9. Palestinian Refugee Losses in 1948 -- 10. Implementation of an Agreed Solution for Palestinian Refugee Claims: Learning from the Experience of Other Claims Mechanisms -- 11. Gender Dimensions of Redress for the Palestinian Refugees -- 12. Redressing Internally Displaced Persons in Israel -- 13. Linking Palestinian Compensation Claims with Jewish Property Claims against Arab Countries -- 14. Palestinian Refugee Compensation: Connections and Complexities -- 15. Beyond Compensation: Reparations, Transitional Justice and the Palestinian Refugee Question -- Notes on Contributors -- Index One of the core aspects of the Palestinian refugee question is that of compensation or reparations for Palestinian refugees forcibly displaced by the establishment of Israel. Despite the importance of the issue, many of the complex technical issues compensation would entail have not received adequate attention. In this volume, a rich variety of contributors including Palestinian, Israeli, and international scholars, analysts, and former officials examine the topic from an array of legal, economic, and political perspectives. In doing so, they cast new and important light on the way the issue has been approached in past negotiations, the structure of possible compensation regimesa and potential challenges and obstacles to implementation.