Yitzhar

Yitzhar ( _he. יצהר) is an Israeli settlement located in the Samarian mountains of the West Bank near Nablus/Shechem just off Route 60 north of the Tapuach Junction. It is widely known for the prevalance of extreme right wing political ideology amongst the population, even when compared to other Jewish towns and settlements in the Samaria region of the West Bank. The hebrew term 'Yitzhar' is a biblical term, meaning "high quality olive oil", and derives from one of the region's major industries. The settlement was originally established as a pioneer Nahal military outpost and demilitarized only a year later when turned over to residential purposes in 1984 with the assistance of the Amana settlement organization.

Over 130 families, including over 500 people, live in this Orthodox Jewish community which is within the municipal jurisdiction of the Shomron Regional Council. Yitzhar is located on the top of a steep mountain, and overlooks the farms and hamlets that dot the otherwise barren hills around the village. In addition, from the western side of the settlement, the entire coastal plain of Israel, from Ashkelon to Hadera, is fully visible on a clear day.

Education is a priority of the community and several institutions operate locally: nurseries, the boy's "Zilberman" Talmud Torah, the "Dorshei Yichudcha" Yeshiva high school, headed by Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, and the "Od Yosef Chai" "Higher Yeshiva" headed by Rabbi Yitzhak Ginzburg, that was previously located in Joseph's Tomb Nablus. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1005535.html Ha'retz] IDF commander: We must deal with settler 'provocateurs'. retrieved 26 July 2008]

Terror Attacks and Violence

On 12 May 1999 Settlers beat two Palestinian farmers with rifle butts during a dispute over a plot of land near Nablus. Israeli army radio reported that the settlers tried to prevent the farmers from harvesting wheat near the Jewish settlement of "Yitzhar." An argument ensued when seven settlers put up a tent on the farmers' land. The Palestinian farmers were from the nearby village of Assira al-Qibliya. [http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/99818751a6a4c9c6852560690077ef61/8e8d586115a7d0b4052567970066444b!OpenDocument UN Doc] Chronological review of events May 1999]

On the 23 May 1999 Peace Now activists overflew Israeli settlements on the West Bank and found that the Yizhar settlement was expanding by building 600 metres outside its fence.

Violence has been a cause of concern in the area of Yitzhar. In 2008 there have been several reported cases. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1007770.html Ha'aretz] 2 August 2008 "Unknown assailants hurl brick at car in West Bank, injuring 7-year-old Palestinian girl" By Yuval Azoulay] . Reports neither confirm nor deny any alleged Israeli involvement.

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, a Palestinian man entered the Shalhevet neighborhood, set a fire which destroyed one home and stabbed a nine-year-old boy who found him attempting to set fire to another home. Dozens of settlers responded by marching through the adjacent Arab village of Asira al-Qibliya where the attacker had fled; allegedly wounding two people and damaging property. [ [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221142461153&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Jpost] 13 September 2008 Rise in settler violence feared By Yaakov Katz & Jpost staff] [ [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/127601 Arutz Sheva] Arab Terrorist Stabs Boy near Yitzhar, Residents Attack Village by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu]

Footnotes

External links

* [http://sdf.shomron.org.il/yishuv/yitzhar.html Menachem Brody's pictures of Yitzhar]