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Itamar (Template:Lang-he-n) is an Israeli settlement located in the West Bank's Samarian mountains near Nablus/Shechem. The village, named for Ithamar, the youngest son of Aaron the High Priest, was established in 1984 by several families from the Machon Meir Yeshiva in Jerusalem with the assistance of the Amana settlement organization. Tradition places the burial place of Ithamar in the same vicinity. The original name was Tel Chaim, commemorating Chaim Landau.

Over 120 families live in this Orthodox Jewish community which is within the municipal jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council, including a community of Bnei Menashe from Manipur and Mizoram. The location had been chosen to take advantage of the large reserve of state lands. Itamar is known for the many farms and hamlets (outposts) that dot the otherwise barren hills east of the village.

Education is a priority and several institutions operate locally: nurseries, the boy's Itamar Talmud Torah, the girl's Be'er Miriam Talmud Torah, the high school Hitzim Yeshiva, the Itamar "Higher Yeshiva" as well as a midrasha.

Violence

In June 2003, a Palestinian terrorist burst into the home of the Shabo family and opened fire. Rachel Shabo, the mother of the family, and three of her children, were killed. Another two children were seriously injured. Yossi Tuito, who served as commander of the neighborhood preparedness team, was also shot to death as he approached the family's house in order to help. After more than an hour of exchanging gunfire with Israeli soldiers, the Palestinian terrorist was killed. During the gunfight, the Shabo house caught fire and burned down.

In September 2008, Yehia Apa Riham, a Palestinian shepherd, was been shot dead near Itamar. He was among a group of shepherds grazing their flocks south of Nablus and when they were attacked by the settlers, security officials said. Two teenagers had reported seeing a white car belonging to some Israeli settlers pursue the shepherd late on Saturday and then hearing shots.

References

1. http://www.bnei-menashe.org
2. "Jewish settlers 'kill Palestinian'". Al Jazeera. 2008-09-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Unofficial website

Notes

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