Sela'it Security Coordinator Honored for Stopping Terrorist: 'The Bullet Missed Me'

Photo: Naama Zaks The Sela'it security coordinator who neutralized the terrorist received a commendation: 'The bullet missed me'

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, today (Thursday) awarded a civilian commendation to R'oi Dmati, the security coordinator of the community of Sela'it. Dmati received the citation for his bravery and resourcefulness after shooting the terrorist who carried out a deadly shooting spree in Kochav Yair, Tzur Natan, Tzur Yitzhak and Sela'it, thereby preventing an even greater disaster.

The terrorist, who murdered reservist fighter Haim Klomiti, of blessed memory, in the shooting attack and wounded five other people, reached the gate of the community of Sela'it. There he encountered R'oi Dmati, who was on guard at the gate. Dmati quickly recovered, fired at the terrorist and neutralized him, thereby stopping the continuation of the killing spree.

The citation was presented at a special ceremony in the office of the head of the Samaria Regional Council, attended by Col. P., commander of the Ephraim Brigade, Lt. Col. (res.) M., home front officer of the Ephraim Brigade, Sela'it community chairman Eliran Emmanuel, head of the community security committee Amit Yakobovitz, Samaria Regional Council security chief Yonatan Shimchi and the council's regional security chief Hagi Yehoshua.

Yossi Dagan thanked Dmati for his decisive action and said, "We gathered here today to salute you, thank you and express our appreciation, on behalf of all the residents of Samaria, on behalf of the entire people of Israel. As a security coordinator you risked your life, stood exposed in front of the fire and prevented far greater bloodshed than what could have been. What you did, while truly risking your life, is an example and a model, and therefore I am honored to present you with a civilian commendation on behalf of Samaria and on behalf of all the people of Israel. Thanks to people like you, thanks to our forces, thanks to the emergency squads, together we will win."

R'oi Dmati, the security coordinator of the Sela'it community and father of three, described the tense moments in which he encountered the terrorist: "The regional council's security chief, Hagi Yehoshua, called me a few minutes before the terrorist arrived and alerted me that there were terrorists in the neighboring community. While I was checking the matter, in the middle of the conversation with him, the terrorist suddenly appeared in front of me. I shouted to the security chief, 'They're shooting at me!' The terrorist missed me by a few centimeters, I jumped out and fired at him."

Dmati added, "The terrorist met me face to face, and fortunately he missed the first shot."

Dmati also referred to the challenges of the security coordinator's job: "The role of the security coordinator involves many aspects, and security coordinators have been at the forefront for a long time, especially after October 7, and it is important to strengthen and support them."

He concluded, "I am glad I was there and that the outcome was what it was, and we will do what we can so that we all continue to win."

Lt. Col. (res.) M., the home front officer of the Ephraim Brigade, and Samaria Council security chief Yonatan Shimchi praised Dmati's decisive action. Community chairman Eliran Emmanuel embraced Dmati in tears and said, "You prevented a much more serious attack, if the terrorist had gotten in I don't know what would have happened."

Yossi Dagan, attack, commendation, security coordinator