Getting off scot-free: ‘Ata Sabah’s story

In May 2013 soldiers fired at ‘Ata Sabah, 12, in a field behind his school in al-Jalazun Refugee Camp. He was left paralyzed from the waist down. Ever since, apart from some funding from the PA, his family has had to foot the bill for expensive treatments and medicines and transport to school 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.