Jerusalem - "Talya and Yitzhak raised their children with joy and modesty," residents of Beit Hagai said on Tuesday. Four of the settlement's residents were killed in a shooting attack near Hebron, including a couple survived by six children. "They had quit a few difficulties in their life, but they overcame it all." The other victims of the shooting are Kochava Even-Haim and Avishai Schindler, who were in the car with the couple.
The deadly attack took place not far from home, at the Bani Noam junction. Talia and Yitzhak Imes were survived by a one-and-a-half-year-old infant and five other children, the oldest of which is 19.
One of the community's residents said the couple was ideological, and during the Gaza pullout joined the struggle against the decision and even temporarily moved to Gush Katif.
Kochava Even-Haim was a teacher in the community of Efrat in Gush Etzion and was survived by her husband and eight-year-old daughter. Meir Damari, a resident of Beit Hagai said, "Only after many years of trying did Kochava manage to get pregnant and bring a child into the world. Now she is left without a mother," he said sadly.
Avishai Shendler just recently moved to Beit Hagai, in the trail of his wife. "He and his wife quickly integrated in life in the community here. Avichai was always full of energy and joy," Damari said.
Mount Hebron Regional Council head Zviki Bar-Hai said on Tuesday, "The people of Israel have lost four of their people and three families were affected. Beit Hagai is a strong community, and with God's help, we will overcome. This is an opportunity for self-examination for Israel before Rosh Hashana, to question who desires life and who seeks murder and blood."
