Wildfires on Wednesday raged on the outskirts of Jerusalem, forcing the evacuation of communities and the closure of a main highway as Israel appealed for international assistance to help fight the blaze.
Footage showed fires burning along the main Route 1 Jerusalem to Tel Aviv highway and people abandoning cars and running away from the flames as thick smoke billowed over the surrounding hilltops.
According to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Italy and Croatia were expected to send three firefighting planes to help extinguish the flames.
The Foreign Ministry said Israel has also appealed to Greece, Cyprus and Bulgaria to for assistance to contain the fire.
Israeli media reported that at least 120 fire and rescue services had mobilised dozens of teams, aircraft and helicopters to try to contain the fires and the military said its search and rescue forces were assisting the operations.
The police said three communities were evacuated and no fewer than 13 people were injured. There were no reports of fatalities.
The fire was said to have broken out on Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and many ceremonies marking the eve of its Independence Day were cancelled, including the main state event due to be held in Jerusalem.
