Eldar Abir

March 1, 2006 - Eldar Abir, 48, of Migdalim was killed when two Palestinian shot him at point blank range at the gas station outside the settlement. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

Eldad Abir moved to Migdalim, a secular settlement in the West Bank east of Ariel, nine years ago. "He was a member of the committee and very involved in its management," Liora Yaguda, Migdalim spokeswoman. He was the manager of the gas station just outside the settlement, where two terrorists shot him at point blank range. Eldad was mortally wounded, and died of his wounds shortly afterwards.

Eldad and his second wife, Debby, decided to register Yahel, their 3-year-old daughter, at a kindergarten in Ariel in order not to expose her to the dangers of traveling on the highway. The couple decided to rent an apartment in Ariel in order to be close to their daughter's kindergarten, and since then have split their time between Ariel and Migdalim.

"Eldad was a sociable man, mischievous, a very good friend, someone who cared, someone who loved the place," said a neighbor at Migdalim.

Eldad Abir was buried in the Yarkon cemetery. He is survived by his wife Debby, their daughter Yahel, and a 17-year-old son from his first marriage.