In Feb. 2004 Basmah Mansur, a mother of 10, was hit in the face by
soldiers’ gunfire as she stood by a window in her home. After lying
unconscious for two weeks she woke to find she could not accomplish even
the simplest of tasks unaided. She has been dependent on the goodwill
of family and neighbors ever since because Israel has managed to craft a
legal reality in which it is virtually impossible for Palestinians
harmed by Israeli security forces to get compensation. This reality,
along with immunity from criminal charges enjoyed by government and
military officials allows Israel to operate in the occupied territories
with no accountability.