Gil Eliyahu/Israel Hayom
A firefighting plane flies over Haifa.
One-Third Of Israel Fires
Due To Arson, Police Say
Times of Israel
S
ince Nov. 22, firefighters
have been battling wildfires
throughout Israel that hit
Haifa on Nov. 24 forcing some 60,000
residents to evacuate their homes.
The residents have since been cleared
to return home, though over 1,000
houses have been damaged.
Police on Nov. 27 said they suspect
between 30-40 of the 90 fires they have
investigated thus far were started by
arsonists.
Police also said that although much
of the evidence was destroyed by the
fires, they are using forensic samples
to determine whether the fires were
ignited intentionally.
However, police have not yet found
any evidence that the arson was
coordinated nationally or planned in
advance. Their assessment is that the
arson was local and opportunistic, the
statement said.
“Many of the incidents were caused
by normal reasons, like weather or an
electrical short circuit — but a seri-
ous number were caused by arson,” a
police spokesperson said. Many fires
starting over a small area is an indica-
tor of possible arson, he added.
“We are setting up a nationwide
team to centralize the local details and
are trying to find a connection,” the
spokesperson said. “We are trying to
understand who is behind the arson,
and we are trying to reach them.”
Police said that they have questioned
some 50 people in connection with the
fires and arrested 24. Eighteen of those
arrested are Israeli Arabs, Channel 2
reported. Two of those, from the Israeli
Arab towns of Umm al-Fahm and Deir
Hanna in northern Israel, admitted to
arson. Five people were arrested on
suspicion of inciting on social media
and 45 were questioned on suspicion
of starting fires.
Attending to the rash of an esti-
mated 200 fires across the country,
firefighting planes from Israel and
countries including Russia, Turkey,
Greece, France, Spain and Canada have
dumped tons of water and retardants.
Police chief Roni Alsheich said
Sunday that there had been similar
arson attacks in the past and that they
should be considered acts of terror,
Army Radio reported.
*
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The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit is supporting critical efforts to
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December 1 • 2016
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