Maj. Shahar Shmul

Feb 11, 2003 - Maj. Shahar Shmul, 24, of Jerusalem, was killed by a Palestinian sniper near the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem while checking a suspicious vehicle. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.

Shmul, a company commander in the Armored Corps, was the first casualty from the ORT Ramot High School in Jerusalem. Many graduates came to the school the morning after he was killed to express condolences at a special memorial corner. Similarly, many of Shmul's soldiers visited his family at their home in the capital's Ramot neighborhood. The Shmul family had moved to Jerusalem from Safed.

Esther Shmul, Shahar's mother, said after receiving the news of his death, "He loved his soldiers and took great care of them. He would give up his Shabbat at home and stay with them if they had a problem."

One of his teachers, Leah Sofer, described him as a well-loved student who could always be relied upon. As part of the school program in community service, he volunteered to help blind children at the Keren Or Institute in Jerusalem - a project he continued even after he graduated from high school.

"He was an esteemed officer, who was tirelessly concerned about his soldiers," one of his subordinates said. Shmul's cousin, Michal Weg, said, "The guy was addicted to the army. It's shocking how he was so cruelly killed." Just a month ago, Shmul signed on for six years at the IDF Military Academy.