JERUSALEM: Wildfires have been raging for over a week across various parts of Israel, including areas near Jerusalem, as emergency services race against time to bring the flames under control. According to Al Jazeera, citing The Times of Israel, at least 155 firefighting teams are currently deployed to contain the blazes that continue to threaten residential and forested areas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address on Tuesday, warned that the country is facing a “national emergency” due to the scale and intensity of the fires. He emphasized that the flames were inching dangerously close to Jerusalem and urged residents in high-risk areas to cooperate fully with emergency services and evacuation protocols.
"This is one of the most serious wildfire events we’ve experienced in the last ten years," said Israel’s fire and rescue chief Eyal Caspi, highlighting the challenge posed by strong winds and high temperatures that continue to fuel the infernos.
Multiple evacuation orders have been issued for communities surrounding the capital. Thick smoke has blanketed parts of the city, causing respiratory issues and reducing visibility. Hospitals in Jerusalem have reported a rise in cases related to smoke inhalation.
Environmental experts say the region's prolonged dry conditions, exacerbated by climate change, have made large parts of Israel more vulnerable to such fires. Drought-stressed vegetation and record temperatures in recent weeks have created ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread rapidly.
Israel has also reached out to neighboring countries for potential assistance, though details remain limited. In the past, nations such as Greece, Cyprus, and Turkey have provided aerial support during major fire events in Israel.
Efforts are also being made to prevent the fire from reaching critical infrastructure and historical sites near Jerusalem. Authorities have deployed bulldozers to create firebreaks and are using aircraft to douse flames in remote, difficult-to-access terrain.
While officials remain hopeful that the fires can be contained in the coming days, they caution that changing wind patterns and ongoing dry conditions could trigger flare-ups, making it a continued race against time.
