Ari Fuld’s family on stage as he is honored. (Koby Richter/TPS)

“Ari Fuld demonstrated supreme courage while putting his own life on the line when in his final moments he chased the terrorist and neutralized him—thus saving the lives of other civilians,” said Minister Gilad Erdan

Terror victim Ari Fuld was decorated on Tuesday with the Medal of Distinguished Service (Civilian) for the outstanding bravery he displayed during a stabbing attack in Gush Etzion last September.

Fuld was stabbed in the back by a Palestinian terrorist, fought his assailant, and chased and shot him before collapsing. He died later in a Jerusalem hospital.

Through his last moments of bravery, he prevented an attack of a larger scope, defense officials said.

One woman he saved, an employee of the falafel shop in the Gush Etzion plaza where the incident occurred, said that Fuld, “a true hero,” saved her life, as the terrorist was pursuing her with his knife.

The Civilian Courage Award is the highest civilian decoration in Israel.

“Ari Fuld demonstrated supreme courage while putting his own life on the line when in his final moments he chased the terrorist and neutralized him—thus saving the lives of other civilians,” Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan wrote Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh when asking him to decorate Fuld.

“Ari fought for Israel beyond the battlefield, in the international arena, and was one of the activists in a network we have established to show the world the truth about Israel and expose the lies of its boycotters,” Erdan added. “Ari was a role model, and we should honor him for that.”

Fuld was honored at an Israel Police ceremony awarding medals of excellence, held at the National Police College in Beit Shemesh. The medals were given to members of the Civilian Counter-Terrorism unit (Yamam), Border Police and Israel Police for excellence in action, initiative and determination.

Master Sergeant Hadas Malka was also honored for excellence in police work while risking her life in the terrorist incident at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem in 2017, during which she lost her life.

A Loving Embrace to the Families

Addressing the moving event, President Reuven Rivlin stated that the “decorations awarded here are not given out lightly.  You have earned them, at risk to your lives.”

“Fighting for Israel’s security, some of our heroes lost their lives or were injured and will require long-term recuperation. All of them displayed exceptional heroism, determination when facing danger, personal risk on behalf of us all and a commitment to saving life. You are not only the heroes of the Israel Police. You are the heroes of us all. I salute you!” he declared

“I want to send from hear a loving embrace to the families of the fallen heroes who were not able to be with us here tonight,” said the president as he concluded his remarks. “You paid the heaviest price. Thank you to the Israel Police, thank you to the Border Police, thank you for keeping us safe and enabling us to live our daily lives.”