JERUSALEM — Wildfires that have ravaged woodland in the hills west of Jerusalem since noon on Sunday have finally been brought under control, the Israeli fire service said on Tuesday. “After 52 hours battling the flames, all of the fires around Jerusalem have been brought under control,” a statement said. On Tuesday, Palestinian firefighters joined their Israeli counterparts in a gesture hailed by Defense Minister Benny Gantz who used Twitter to send his thanks in Arabic. “I thank Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas for the initiative to send firefighters to help Israel… to save human lives and our common interests,” Gantz tweeted. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett overflew the affected area by helicopter, and thanked the firefighters “for their dedication and professionalism”.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 18, 2021 09:33 UTC