Israeli aid is on maximum alert on Thursday after the departure of several devastating fires, mainly west of Jerusalem, the most important in ten years. In a statement, the Israeli National Security minister suggested that fires could be of criminal origin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Wednesday that forest fires that quickly spread near Jerusalem could reach the city. Israeli aid is on maximum alert after the departure of several devastating fires, mainly west of Jerusalem, the most important in years, which have been several light injured.
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The “biggest fire” in Israel for ten years
“The west wind can easily push the fire to the districts on the outskirts of (Jerusalem), even even in the city itself,” said Netanyahu, in a video broadcast by his office. “Currently, the priority is to defend Jerusalem,” he added, reporting a “national emergency situation”. “We have probably faces the largest fire in Israel in a decade,” said Eyal Caspi earlier, the commander of the firefighters, during a press point.
The Minister of Defense, Israel Katz, ordered the army to deploy to control these fires which are spread quickly due to the violent winds and high temperatures, qualifying the situation of “national emergency”.
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23 people slightly injured
Magen David Adom’s emergency services said that they had taken care of at least 23 slightly injured, adding that the alert threshold was noted at its maximum level.
Israeli police closed the highway on Wednesday between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and evacuated from the municipalities along this road axis, in an area already ravaged by fire a week ago. “We are in a national emergency and all the forces available must be mobilized to save lives and master fires,” said Israel Katz in a statement.
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Five localities evacuated
Soldiers arrived on the spot in the middle of the afternoon, according to an AFP journalist on the spot, who saw them helping the evacuation of people trapped on the roads between thick clouds of black smoke. At least five localities have been evacuated, police said. These localities are approximately 30 kilometers west of Jerusalem.
The flames devour wooded areas near the road connecting Latrun to Bet Shemesh where several helicopters are trying to extinguish them, according to AFP journalist. Many drivers have abandoned their vehicle in the middle of the road and fled.
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Ambulances teams have been positioned near the municipalities close to fires and are ready to intervene, said a rescuer of MDA, Saar Shai. Mr. Shai added that a biker unit had been sent to help people blocked in traffic jams. “Ambulance teams, intensive care units and immediate intervention vehicles provide medical support to fire -fighting operations near Neve Shalom and Eshtaol”, forest sectors west of Jerusalem, had previously declared emergency services.
The Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the anti-fire control service, announced that he has been going to the scene. In a video, he said that additional efforts were made to help trapped residents.
Criminal origin?
In a statement, this minister suggested later that the fires could be of criminal origin, the police having declared having arrested a resident of East Jerusalem who had been surprised “trying to set fire to a field in the south of the city”. However, no official declaration has made a direct link between the two incidents. “The police will continue their efforts to apprehend all the people involved in these incendiary terrorist acts,” added Ben Gvir.
The town hall of Jerusalem announced the cancellation of all the events scheduled for Wednesday evening in the city for the national day of independence. “Rescue and response services will not be able to participate in the security of events,” said a spokesperson for firefighters, suggesting that many national holidays may be canceled.
Fire control planes must join Israel “as quickly as possible” from several countries, including Italy, the Prime Minister’s services also announced on Wednesday. Last week, when fires in the same area approached Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he was considering asking for international reinforcements, before the fires were ultimately controlled.
