The big blaze that broke out near Jerusalem was substantially contained, according to Israeli authorities on Thursday. While all major highways, including the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv axis, were reopened, firefighters continued to work on areas that remained hotspots. As firefighters fought through the night to suppress the fire, the fire, which started along the key Jerusalem-Tel Aviv route on Wednesday, forced widespread evacuations and traffic closures.
According to firefighting service senior officer Shlomi Harush, “the fire is under control,” she told news agency AFP. “There are only hotspots left… all teams remain deployed across the affected areas,” he stated. Harush cautioned that the fire can potentially be rekindled by high winds. As firemen doused blazing embers with water, smoke continued to rise near a monastery in Latrun, around 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) from Jerusalem, the AFP report said.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a “national emergency” on Wednesday, warning that the fire would spread to Jerusalem. According to a statement from the police, “all routes have been reopened to traffic,” and those who lived in the evacuated Mavo Horon hamlet were permitted to return. Arson may be the cause of the fires, according to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu stated at a gathering in Jerusalem on Thursday that officials were “currently holding 18 people who are suspected of arson, one of whom was caught in the act.”
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