Arson suspected as Israel seeks help to tackle wildfires

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan demanded Turkey, Greece, Cyprus and Italy to send firefighting aircrafts overnight to help local crews subdue fires that continue to rage around the country.

The Voice of Israel agency said that the decision was taken after a spate of fires broke out around Israel; it also expected that strong winds appeared set to continue for several days with little chance of rain.

Firefighting crews worked to ensure the fire didn’t reignite near the town, which broke out west of Jerusalem.

The fire crews successfully pushed the fire raging near the Jerusalem-area community of Nataf away from the community.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the blaze was caused as a result of a bonfire lit by workers who were paving a road near a pine forest. The Israeli police arrested four part-time workers.