Preface The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) continues to work in a difficult and complex environment. This mainly involves an unprecedented encroachment on the rights of the Palestinian people by the Israeli occupying authorities. The internal Palestinian political divide has, and continues to, undermine the Palestinian political system and integrity of the Palestinian people and territory. It gives rise harsh and painful realities, not least because it reproduces itself in dangerous ways. In an unprecedented international climate, international community actors have continued to provide political coverage for grave human rights violations committed by Israel, the occupying Power. All this has made the outcome of future conditions unpredictable, leaving the Palestinian territory increasingly vulnerable and exposed. It has also transformed the status of human rights into a unique and exceptional case in view of multiple duty bearers and responsibility for what is good and what is bad. 2018 witnessed further deterioration of the status of human rights across the Palestinian territory. In defiance of international law, Israel continued settlement activity and seized the majority of the West Bank area. Israeli settler violence and attacks frequently targeted Palestinian citizens and properties. Combined, these measures have resulted in fragmenting territorial contiguity of the Palestinian territory. The Israeli occupying forces also continued to use excessive and lethal force against Palestinian civilians, who are protected by the relevant rules of international law. In addition, Israel pursued a policy of arresting and using torture and illtreatment against Palestinian citizens from across the spectrum, including young people, children and women. Contrary to the most elementary legal norms, Israel maintained administrative detention (arrest without charge or trial). In violation of the minimum standards for the treatment of prisoners, Israeli prison administrations also subjected Palestinian detainees and prisoners to cruel treatment. In a race against time, unrelenting attempts were made throughout 2018 to pass racist laws, which jeopardise the existence, properties and rights of the Palestinian people. This reflects an unprecedented development that seeks to resolve major issues of the conflict. Racist legislative acts included the Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People, Settlement Regularisation Law, etc. Organised action was expedited to Judaise Jerusalem and change the city’s Arab, Islamic and Christian character. Israel continued to place further restrictions on the Palestinian population, keep up settlement activity, and isolate the city of Jerusalem from the rest of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). Executive Summary 2018 5