Yoel Tzur Recalls Family Tragedy and Choosing Resilience After Deadly Terror Attack

Yoel Tzur, who lost his wife Ita and son Efraim in a terror attack over 25 years ago, shared his story in an interview for the "Documentation of Veterans and Founders of the Settlement" project. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Heritage and the Council for the Preservation of Heritage Sites in Israel, will publish the full interview this week. Tzur recounted the attack that took place on the seventh night of Hanukkah, when terrorists ambushed his family vehicle and fired approximately 120 bullets from about two meters away. Efraim was killed, Ita was critically wounded, and the other children sustained minor injuries.

In the immediate aftermath, Tzur described his internal resolve not to break down, saying, "Yoel, do not break. We will continue strongly forward." After the funeral, the family decided to persevere, focusing on raising their seven remaining children with joy, marrying them off, and continuing the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria. The children ranged in age from six to eighteen and were in different educational settings. Despite the tragedy, Tzur resumed his work and responsibilities quickly, returning to his role managing Channel 7 aboard a ship just two days after the shiva period, emphasizing the importance of "winning routine" and "healing routine."

With the community's support, the family restored their daily life, sending the children back to school immediately. Over the years, the family grew closer, with all seven children marrying; Tzur personally managed preparations for five of the weddings. He attributed their resilience to faith, acceptance of divine judgment, and the conscious choice not to succumb to grief. This unity, return to routine, and belief that "everything is from God" provided strength to the family and positively influenced their community and regional council.