215 Closing Remarks of the Editor This report began with some thought‐provoking comments and observations in its Preface and Introduction, so perhaps it is only fitting to end this report by reflecting on a few of them. One of those comments referred to a compass for Palestinian human rights to follow, and whether any such compass actually exists. But if we understand the purpose of a compass to be something which helps us to find our way, to allow us to see where we came from and where we are headed, then it can be said yes, a compass does exist, and it exists in the form of the great constellation of international conventions on human rights, and the Palestinian Basic Law. Frequently mentioned throughout this report, they point the way towards an ideal to work towards, standards to live by, and the continuation of norms already well established. Most of the other concerns mentioned, however, could be understood as the predictable problems of the birth and infancy of any new state, no matter its location or circumstances. There will always be, for example, those who choose to only see the dark side, and to never notice what small but important gains have been made. The idea of there being a mosaic of human rights in Palestine, and of there being ups and downs, is a particularly realistic one, because it admits that any sort of progress made is not going to be uniform across the population, throughout the government, and in every aspect of human rights issues. It will always progress in small slices, or large chunks, making great strides in some ways but needing more work in others. It is a frustrating mosaic to look at, but if one steps back to look at the entire work, the larger picture begins to become clear. Of course all the parties involved are obsessed with security issues, and this is perhaps the greatest obstacle to any forward movement. It is interesting, however, that in the midst of it there even exists at all the Independent Commission for Human Rights in Palestine, and that it is a high‐functioning institution with admirable impartiality in the enormous research and reporting it undertakes day after day.