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Samaritans are members of an ancient Semitic people inhabiting the region of Samaria, located between Judea in the south and Galilee in the north, in present-day Israel and Palestine. They are descendants of the Israelites of the northern kingdom of Israel, which was conquered by the Assyrians in the 8th century BCE. After the conquest, the Assyrians resettled foreign peoples in the region, leading to intermarriage and the development of a distinct Samaritan culture and religious tradition.

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Samaritans follow a form of the Israelite religion that is similar to Judaism but with some differences in theology, religious practices, and sacred texts. They regard Mount Gerizim near the ancient city of Shechem (modern-day Nablus) as the holiest site for worship, rather than Jerusalem as in mainstream Judaism. Additionally, they have their version of the Torah, known as the Samaritan Pentateuch, which contains variations from the Jewish Masoretic Text.

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Throughout history, Samaritans have often been marginalized and discriminated against by other religious and ethnic groups due to their distinctiveness and historical conflicts. However, Samaritan communities continue to exist today, albeit in smaller numbers, primarily in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Despite their differences, efforts have been made in recent years to foster dialogue and cooperation between Samaritans and other religious communities in the region.

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