Itamar entrance sign
Itamar entrance signIsrael news photo: Arutz Sheva

Avia Shabo, who lost her mother and three brothers when a terrorist invaded their home in Itamar in 2002, is engaged. Her fiancé is her stepbrother, David Susan – the son of the woman whom her father married five years ago.

Shabo and Susan grew up together in their parents' home in Kedumim. "It is true that he is my stepbrother but there is nothing strange about it, and it really makes no difference to me," Avia said Monday.

Avia and David worked together in Kedumim's security headquarters and recently announced to their families that they intend to marry. "This is true closure," the father, Boaz, said.

"We got to know each other at home and things flowed slowly. Everyone was aware of this special bond that developed between me and David, and was very excited when we announced that we are getting married. Dad was also very happy when we told him, but no one was surprised."

The Shabo family's tragedy took place on June 20, 2002, at the peak of the mega-campaign of terror waged by the Palestinian Authority against Jewish civilians from 2000 to 2005 ("Second Intifada" or "Oslo War").

An armed terrorist entered Itamar and began firing at people indiscriminately. When he reached the Shabo family home, he broke in and murdered Rachel Shabo (40) and three of her seven children, Neria (15), Tzvika (12) and Avishai (5). Avia and another brother, Asael, were injured.

Yosi Tuito (40), who was the commander of Itamar's emergency response team, was also shot to death when he arrived at the Shabo home. IDF and Border Police forces succeeded in extricating the two wounded children under fire. The terrorist was shot and killed.

Boaz remarried five years ago, to Hila, who has five children of her own. The two made their home in Kedumim and in 2009, Hila gave birth to triplets.