Civilian Citation Awarded to Local Security Chief Who Drove Off Terrorist in the Sharon: 'I Shouted, Shots Were Fired, the Bullet Missed Me'

"I shouted to the security officer, 'They're shooting at me!'" That is how Selaith local security chief Roi Dmati, who neutralized and drove off the terrorist during the deadly shooting attack in the Sharon, recounted the events today, Thursday. Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan presented him with a civilian citation at a special ceremony attended by Ephraim Brigade Commander Col. P.

"The Samaria regional security officer called me a few minutes before the terrorist arrived in the community. He warned me that there were terrorists in the neighboring community, and while I was checking the matter, the terrorist appeared in front of me. I shouted, 'They're shooting at me!' and the terrorist's bullet missed me by just a few centimeters," Dmati, a father of three, said. "I jumped out of the position and fired at him. The terrorist met me face to face, but fortunately he missed the first shot. The role of the local security chief is complex in many ways, and the local security chiefs have been at the forefront for a long time, especially after October 7. It is important to strengthen everyone and support them. I am glad I was there and that the outcome was such. We will do what we can and all continue to win."

The civilian citation ceremony was held in the office of Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who praised Dmati for his actions and the resourcefulness he displayed: "We all gathered here to salute you, thank you, and express our appreciation in the name of all the people of settlement in Samaria, in the name of the entire people of Israel. As a local security chief, you risked your life, stood exposed to fire, and prevented far greater bloodshed than could have been. The act you carried out, with real risk to life, is an example and a model, and therefore I have the honor of presenting you with a civilian citation on behalf of Samaria and the people of Israel. Thanks to people like you, thanks to the IDF, thanks to the standby squads, together we will win."

Also participating in the ceremony were the Ephraim Brigade's territorial defense officer, Lt. Col. (res.) M.; Selaith community chair Eliran Emanuel; head of the Selaith community security committee Amit Yakubovitz; Samaria Regional Council security officer Yonatan Shmichi; and the Samaria Regional Council regional security officer Hagi Yehoshua.

Security officer Shmichi said: "We can see how important the community security system is, local security chiefs, the standby squad, and the guards at the entrances to the communities, and how much they need to be strengthened. Everything is built in circles. There is the army and all the emergency services, and in the end the inner circle, the community circle, is critical and final. Therefore, I am praising the heroism of the local security chief and strengthening the community defense systems."

Community chair Emanuel added: "You prevented a much more serious attack. If the terrorist had entered, I do not know what would have happened."

The attack began on Sunday at the gas station near the entrance to Kfar Yair, and then the Arab-Israeli terrorist continued to the communities of Tzur Natan and Tzur Yitzhak, where he also opened fire. He was killed in the quarries in Tayibe, after an exchange of fire with Dmati.

Footage from the scene shows bloodstains on the floor of a McDonald's branch, where one of the injured entered after being wounded by gunfire at the gas station. Another recording shows the local security chief of Selaith firing at the terrorist before he was killed by an officer and a police officer. Another clip, from the start of the shooting spree, shows the terrorist arriving at the gas station and opening fire. A 35-year-old man was murdered and five others were wounded, including two seriously.