Maj. Shahar Ben-Yishai

May 29, 2004 - Maj. Shahar Ben-Yishai, 25, of Menahemia was killed by Palestinian gunfire following a search in the Balata camp near Nablus. The Fatah Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.

The company under Captain Ben-Yishai's command arrived at the house at around 5:30 A.M., after receiving intelligence information on terror activity taking place in the building.

The troops searched the house for 45 minutes, and upon leaving for their armored jeeps waiting outside, a gunman fired three bullets at Ben-Yishai. One of the bullets penetrated his upper body, where his flak-jacket was not bullet-proofed. He was seriously wounded and died on the way to hospital. He was posthumously awarded the rank of Major.

Shahar completed his primary education in Menahemia and his high school studies at the Reali High School in Haifa. He began his army service in 1996 in the 101 Paratrooper Battalion and quickly advanced to become an officer. After completing his compulsory service, he chose to sign on as a career officer. "They simply asked him to stay on, everyone liked him so much," said his family.

Ben-Yishai took command of an elite unit of the 101 Paratrooper Battalion in October 2003. He was devoted to his soldiers, and would come home on leave only once a month. The commander of the battalion, Lt.-Col. Itzik Bar, described him as an outstanding and charismatic officer. Shahar was a model commander "who introduced standards of professionalism and concern for his soldiers that were nothing short of a revolution." He added, "Scores of terrorists attacks have been foiled by Shahar's platoon since the beginning of the year," Ben-Yishai was to have begun studying law at Tel Aviv University in October, after receiving a scholarship from the army.

Shahar’s sister Hagar added, “He was an outstanding person who loved to help. We had an amazing relationship and I loved his integrity and his decency. I was always afraid that something would happen to him. I knew he served in dangerous places but whenever we talked about it he reassured me and changed the subject.”

Maj. Shahar Ben-Yishai was buried in the military section of the Tiberias cemetery. He is survived by his parents, David and Hannah, and three sisters - Limor, Hagar and Natalie.