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The Independent
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Jerusalem wildfires latest: Israel says blaze is largely contained as help arrives from across Europe
Raging wildfires that threatened Jerusalem have been largely contained, according to the Jewish National Fund, which manages forests in the country, as aid from Europe began to arrive. About 5,000 acres, including 3,000 acres of forest, have been scorched since the blaze started in the hills outside the city on Wednesday. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the situation a national emergency, pleading for international aid. Firefighter planes from Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Italy were sent to tackle the blaze, with reports saying that Ukraine, Spain, France and some other nations were also committed to sending aid. The cause of the fires remained unclear, although Mr Netanyahu said that 18 people had been arrested on suspicion of igniting the fires. At least a dozen people have been hospitalised and 10 have been treated in the field by medical professionals. 'This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country,' Jerusalem 's district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. Wildfires near Jerusalem largely contained The major wildfires near Jerusalem have been largely contained, said the Jewish National Fund, which manages forests in the country, though firefighting efforts continue to address remaining hotspots. Evacuation orders have been lifted, and major highways, including the main route between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, have reopened. International assistance has bolstered firefighting efforts, with countries such as Italy, Croatia, Spain, France, Ukraine, Romania, North Macedonia, and Cyprus sending firefighting aircraft. Stuti Mishra2 May 2025 04:58 Evacuation order lifted on dozen towns in Jerusalem hills on Thursday Israel's fire and rescue authority lifted the evacuation order on approximately a dozen towns in the Jerusalem hills on Thursday. Three Catholic religious communities who were forced to evacuate from their properties on Wednesday were also able to return on Thursday, said Farid Jubran, the spokesperson for the Latin Patriarchate. He said their agricultural lands, including vineyards and olive trees, suffered heavy damage, and some of the buildings were damaged. But there were no injuries, and historic churches were not affected. The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv reopened on Thursday, a day after the flames had encroached on the road, forcing drivers to abandon their cars and flee in terror. On Thursday morning, broad swathes of burned areas were visible from the highway, while pink anti-flame retardant dusted the top of burned trees and bushes. Smoke and the smell of fire hung heavy in the air. Tara Cobham2 May 2025 04:30 Watch: Israel wildfires close key Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway as flames turn sky grey Tara Cobham2 May 2025 04:00 What caused the Israel wildfires? At least 18 suspects arrested over possible arson link Israel 's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that 18 people had been arrested on suspicion of starting fires outside Jerusalem, with one allegedly caught in the act of arson, as the country battled possibly its worst ever wildfires. 'This is perhaps the largest fire ever in the country,' Jerusalem's district fire department commander Shmulik Friedman told reporters on Wednesday afternoon. While the exact cause of the fires near Latrun was still unclear, Mr Netanyahu said the blaze was 'not a simple thing'. My colleague Maroosha Muzaffar reports: What caused the Israel wildfires? At least 18 suspects as arson link probed Benjamin Netanyahu says one suspect caught in the act Tara Cobham2 May 2025 03:00 Fires come after massive forest fire claimed 44 lives in Israel in 2010 The fires comes after a massive forest fire claimed 44 lives when it burned for four days on northern Israel's Mount Carmel in 2010. That blaze also destroyed around 12,000 acres, much of it woodland. Tara Cobham2 May 2025 02:00 Watch: IDF combats Israeli wildfire as Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway blocked Tara Cobham2 May 2025 01:00 Climate change contributed to fire's ferocity, says organisation managing Israel's forests Climate change, which has resulted in decreased rainfall in the region, contributed to the fire's ferocity, according to one of the organisations that manages Israel's forests. Anat Gold, the director of Israel's central region for the Jewish National Fund, known by its Hebrew acronym KKL, which manages forests, plants trees, and promotes settlement in the Holy Land, said: 'Of course when there's a series of drought years, it's a fertile ground for fires.' Tara Cobham2 May 2025 00:00 Such strong fires this early in year are unusual for Israel Israel often sees fires in the summertime, but such strong fires this early in the year are unusual. Many of Israel's forests are planted rather than natural. One of the organisations that manages Israel's forests said that the fires had perfect conditions to spread: a winter with little rain, hot and dry weather, and exceptionally strong winds that are shifting direction constantly. Tara Cobham1 May 2025 23:00 Bryony Gooch1 May 2025 22:00 Jerusalem wildfire in numbers 5,000 acres of land destroyed by the wildfires. At least 15 countries offering to send aid to Israel to quash the flames. At least 23 people treated by the Magen David Adom for smoke inhalation and burns as of Thursday morning. 21 firefighters slightly injured from fighting the blaze. Bryony Gooch1 May 2025 21:00
Russia Today
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Israel hit with ‘largest ever' wildfires (VIDEOS)
Israeli firefighters continue to battle wildfires that have been raging near Jerusalem for two days. Emergency services have described them as some of the 'largest ever' in the country's history. The fires broke out on Wednesday along the main highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, spreading quickly due to the heat and strong winds. The key highway and several other roads in the area were shut down, with people in at least ten communities forced to evacuate from what witnesses described as 'walls of flame.' More than 160 firefighting teams and 12 aircraft were deployed to contain the wildfires. On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that 'we are now in a national emergency, not just a local one,' adding that 'defending Jerusalem' was a priority. Firefighters worked through the night, unblocking the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and allowing residents in several settlements to return to their homes on Thursday. However, the fire service acknowledged in a statement that 'at this stage we still have not gained control' of the conflagration. According to the local media, at least 12 civilians and 17 firefighters, including two pregnant women, have been hospitalized due to smoke inhalation and burns. ⚡️🔥 Israeli media says: Today's fires are the largest in "Israel's history."The occupation forces evacuated five settlements and closed the highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. (Qudsn) About 5,000 acres had burned out as of Thursday, including about 3,200 acres of forest. Canada Park, outside the city of Modi'in, has been the most affected, according to the forestry organization Jewish National Fund. It's weird how @BBCNews is normally obsessed with Israel but has nothing on its news site about the fires devastating the Jerusalem area. It is believed that at least some of the fires are the work of arsonists. Netanyahu also announced that 18 people had been arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the fires. However, police sources told the local media that only three detentions had actually been made and that the suspects had been trying to start fires not near Jerusalem but elsewhere. 🟥 𝐈𝐃𝐅 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐇𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚♦️ Firefighting teams from the Air Force, including fire trucks, were dispatched to the fire zones.♦️ Yasur (CH-53) helicopter of… The wildfires have prompted the Israeli authorities to reduce the scale of Independence Day celebrations, marked on April 30 and May 1. The traditional torch-lighting ceremony in Jerusalem was canceled. The massive fire in Jerusalem is spreading rapidly and is expected to worsen, continuing for over 24 hours, while some Palestinians are calling to start more fires wherever Cyprus, Italy, and Greece are sending for Israel. The chairman of the Israel Fire and Air Rescue Association, Dov Ganem, has blamed the wildfires on the government, saying that it had been unprepared to tackle disasters of such scale. Ganem told the news outlet Walla that he had long been pushing for the country to develop an advanced aerial firefighting capability, but that his calls had been ignored by officials. Please pray for Jerusalem — the fires are terrifying 💔
Middle East Eye
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Wildfires ravage Israel as politicians scramble to assign blame
Israeli firefighters continued battling widespread wildfires for a second consecutive day in the forests surrounding Jerusalem, with an estimated 5,000 acres (20,000 dunams) already scorched. Six areas remain actively affected by the blaze as of Thursday, though residents who were previously evacuated have now been allowed to return to their homes in some areas. However, nature reserves in the region remain closed to the public due to safety concerns. The Jewish National Fund (JNF) has described the event as one of the most extensive wildfires in Israel's history. In response, Israeli authorities have escalated firefighting efforts amid growing public outrage over what many see as financial mismanagement and inadequate preparedness for such disasters. The crisis has sparked political tension, with officials trading blame over the lack of resources and response coordination. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In late March, the Israeli Climate Forum urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to convene emergency meetings to prepare for the upcoming summer season, warning specifically about the risk of wildfires. 'We tried to get his attention,' said Dov Khenin, head of the Israeli Climate Forum. 'But despite all the reminders we've sent so far, the prime minister did not make an effort to assemble the discussion.' 'There's no clearer example of the irresponsibility and danger of appointing Ben Gvir as minister' - Tomer Lotan, former chief of public security ministry On Wednesday, criticism escalated as a former senior public security official accused National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of undermining Israel's firefighting capabilities. Tomer Lotan, former director general of the public security ministry, said he had recommended in 2022 the purchase of Black Hawk helicopters as part of a broader national strategy to combat wildfires. He claims the proposal was dismissed by Ben Gvir, leaving the country underprepared. 'There's no clearer example of the irresponsibility and danger of appointing Ben Gvir as minister,' Lotan said. Police sources told Haaretz that if the helicopters had been procured two years ago, they could have significantly aided efforts to contain the current fires in the Jerusalem Hills. Amid a declared national emergency, Israeli authorities have now been forced to seek international assistance, appealing to Greece, Italy, Croatia, and other countries for firefighting support. Incitement against Palestinians Meanwhile, Netanyahu claimed on Thursday that 18 individuals had been detained on suspicion of arson in connection with the ongoing wildfires. However, police sources speaking to Israeli media disputed the figure, stating that only three arrests had been made. Among those arrested is a 50-year-old resident of the Umm Tuba neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem, who is suspected of attempting to start a fire. Israeli police ban Gaza children photos from anti-war protest, then backtrack Read More » Meanwhile, Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister's son, has drawn sharp criticism from the political left after suggesting on social media that left-wing activists were responsible for igniting the fires, an accusation dismissed by critics as baseless and inflammatory. 'The Kaplanist left has been frantically trying in recent weeks to cancel Independence Day celebrations and the torch-lighting ceremony,' Yair wrote on X. 'I really hope the arson was only carried out by Arabs, without any collaboration from our own people,' he added, igniting controversy amongst Palestinians who saw the statement as further incitement against them. There has been no clear evidence to suggest that the wildfires were a result of an arson attack, as media reports indicate that the three arrested were attempting to set fires elsewhere. According to an analysis by Haaretz, right-leaning media have attempted to shift blame and discourse to the idea of an arson attack, despite warning signs from weather conditions and climate change. Israel's Meteorological Service had issued warnings for several days ahead of Wednesday, cautioning that prolonged dry spells and high winds could trigger wildfires. The agency specifically flagged large areas of the Jerusalem Hills as being at high risk of severe blazes, although the danger was tempered on Thursday as winds weakened and a light rain fell. At the same time a severe sandstorm hit the nearby Gaza Strip.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
High winds forecast as Jerusalem wildfires rage for second day
Israeli firefighters were battling wildfires around Jerusalem for a second day on Thursday and hoped to bring them under control in the course of the day despite fears they could spread due to the weather. Crews were still working at six major fire sites, the Fire and Rescue Authority said, adding that at least 21 firefighters have been injured and required medical treatment. Large areas of land near Jerusalem have burnt, charring fields and forests around the city. Firefighting planes have arrived from Cyprus, and further aircraft have been dispatched from Italy and Croatia and were expected to arrive later in the day in order to assist the efforts. Conditions have improved in some areas, allowing roads previously closed due to thick smoke — including the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem — to reopen. Train services to and from Jerusalem have resumed, according to the Israeli railway company, and some residents of affected areas have been allowed to return to their homes. The Ynet news site reported that over 100 cars abandoned during the chaos on Wednesday have been towed away. Videos showed people fleeing from their cars on the road, leaving their vehicles behind. Some 2,000 hectares of land, mainly forest areas, have burnt so far, the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) said, and there were photos of charred fields and woodland in Israeli media. The cause of the fires remains unclear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that 18 suspects have so far been arrested on charges of arson, according to reports. However, several Israeli media reported that emergency services had arrested a total of three people, citing police sources. Several people were treated for smoke-related injuries. Jerusalem's district fire department commander, Shmulik Friedman, called the group of fires 'perhaps the largest' in the country's history. After a heatwave, temperatures have dropped, but strong winds are expected later Thursday, raising fears of renewed flare-ups, according to the Israeli weather service. Israel has experienced deadly wildfires in the past, including a 2010 blaze in the northern Carmel mountain range that killed more than 40 people. Fires are common in forests around Jerusalem.
Al Bawaba
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Netanyahu's son blames Arabs for Jerusalem wildfires
ALBAWABA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's son, Yair, recently sparked controversy on social media after blaming Israel's left and Arabs for the raging wildfires in Jerusalem. Despite sounding confident, his claims were proven baseless. He accused the left of trying to cancel Israel's Independence Day in cooperation with the Arabs in occupied Palestine. Netanyahu's son blames Arabs for Jerusalem Hills wildfires אני רואה שיש כאלה שצריכים לחזור למילון לחיפוש המילה הסתה. כולל כמה עיתונאים ״ימנים״ אכולי רגשי נחיתות מול השמאל. הסתה זה - לקרוא לאנשים לרצוח או לפגוע באדם מסוים או קבוצה מסוימת. מה שהשמאל וקפלן עושה לראש הממשלה , משפחתו , לימין, לחרדים, מתנחלים וכו כבר שנים ללא הפסקה. — Yair Netanyahu🇮🇱 (@YairNetanyahu) April 30, 2025 Yair Netanyahu took to Musk's X (formerly known as Twitter) and wrote in Hebrew, "Something here is suspicious. The Kaplanist left has been frantically trying in recent weeks to cancel Independence Day celebrations and the torch-lighting ceremony." He added, "I really hope the arson was only carried out by Arabs, without any collaboration from our own people." Yair later deleted the post and shared a new onetelling people to search the meaning of the word "incitement" in the dictionary. According to Quds News Network, while the cause of the fire remains unclear, Ehab Jabareen, who is an expert in Israeli affairs, accused Israel of casting the blame for failing to extinguish the ongoing fires. Moreover, he blamed the Jewish National Fund (JNF) for planting trees in an unsuitable climate. He further stated that it was Israelis who committed arson in hopes of concealing traces of the Palestinian Nakba. According to the Times of Israel, an individual was recently arrested in East Jerusalem after they were accused of arson. Ehab Jabareen, an expert in Israeli affairs, states that the Israeli occupation casts blame for its failure to extinguish the fire that broke out in the eastern part of occupied Jerusalem on the Palestinians. He adds that the Jewish National Fund (JNF) decided to plant trees… — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) May 1, 2025
