31 may 2015
A number of extremist Israeli settlers attacked, late on Saturday night after midnight, a Palestinian home in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, by throwing rocks and several Molotov cocktails at the building, as the family slept.
Palestinian nonviolent activist, Emad Abu Shamsiyya, said the fanatics first threw stones at the property, in Tel Romeida neighborhood, and then hurled several Molotov cocktails causing fires to spread all over the exterior of the building.
“I woke my children up, and we rushed out of the building to avoid being trapped in the fire,” he said, “the neighbors rushed to save us, and we managed to extinguish the fire but all of our exterior furniture and belongings were completely burnt.”
He added that extremist Israeli settlers, living in illegal colonies in the center of the city, are responsible for numerous assaults and violations against the residents and their property.
On Saturday, a number of Israeli extremists assaulted at least seven Palestinians in the same area, and tried to stab them.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were shouting and cursing at the Palestinians, and physically assaulted several residents, while the soldiers did not attempt to stop them.
Palestinian nonviolent activist, Emad Abu Shamsiyya, said the fanatics first threw stones at the property, in Tel Romeida neighborhood, and then hurled several Molotov cocktails causing fires to spread all over the exterior of the building.
“I woke my children up, and we rushed out of the building to avoid being trapped in the fire,” he said, “the neighbors rushed to save us, and we managed to extinguish the fire but all of our exterior furniture and belongings were completely burnt.”
He added that extremist Israeli settlers, living in illegal colonies in the center of the city, are responsible for numerous assaults and violations against the residents and their property.
On Saturday, a number of Israeli extremists assaulted at least seven Palestinians in the same area, and tried to stab them.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers were shouting and cursing at the Palestinians, and physically assaulted several residents, while the soldiers did not attempt to stop them.
27 may 2015
Firefighting teams
fight blazes in Jerusalem area, where six people were lightly hurt in a
fire in Ras al-Amud; in Petah Tikva, baby left for two hours in car in
extreme heat.
A bushfire spread into a street in Tel Mond in the Sharon plains on Wednesday, causing gas tanks to explode and causing damage to the electricity infrastructure on the street. No one was hurt in the fire.
Firefighting teams gained control of the fire, which has spread to three homes, burning them to the ground.
A wheelchair-bound 80-year-old woman was rescued from one of the homes after her son and grandson, who live nearby and were home at the time, smelled the smoke, went outside to see what was happening and noticed the three homes on fire. They rushed to the grandmother's home, which also caught fire, and rescued her.
She was taken to a clinic in Tel Mond so doctors could assess her situation, while her home suffered significant damages in the fire.
A large forest fire was ranging the Nahal Sorek area near Beit Shemesh. Twenty firefighting teams and four firefighting aircraft were working to put out the fire, with more crews on their way.
Another fire broke out near the village of Mabu'im in southern Israel. Residents were asked to evacuate their homes due to concern the fire will spread.
In the Jerusalem area, two firefighting teams were working to put out a bushfire near a structure in Arab neighborhood of Ras al-Amud. Six people were lightly hurt and damage was caused to the structure.
Six firefighting teams were able to reach control over a bushfire in the Atarot industrial area in northern Jerusalem, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes. The firefighters said aronists were setting fire around them while they were working. Other Jerusalem firefighting teams were working to put out fires in several other sites across the capital.
In Petah Tikvah, a two-year-old baby girl was left for about two hours in a car in the blazing heat. Her mother called Magen David Adom paramedics to the scene, who treated her and took her to hospital in light and stable condition. The baby's mother left her in the car in the parking lot and went up to her apartment. The girl was discovered only after her daycare teacher called to ask why the baby did not arrive at daycare.
Several departures were delayed at Ben Gurion International Airport, because the extreme heat damages plane engines' operation. Several passengers had to return to the terminal and some of the planes had to remove some of the luggage from the cargo hold so the lighter aircraft would have an easier time taking off. The Israel Railways limited train speed to 80 kph due to the heat, which would cause delays and changes on most train lines.
Record-breaking heat
Extremely high temperatures were forecasted to hit Israel on Wednesday, with 42 degrees Celsius expected in Tel Aviv, 40 in Haifa and "only" 37 in Jerusalem.
The Fire Department was preparing for the heat wave with 600 men at fire houses. Twelve firefighting aircraft are at the ready and the public has been warned not to make any fires, including bonfires. Magen David Adom has released special directives fearing cases of dehydration. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has cancelled field trips in areas expected to be affected by the extreme heat.
The heat wave is expected to break by Thursday morning, and there will be a change in the weather with a rainy weekend forecasted. The heat wave will first break on along the coastline and then gradually inland. Eastern Israel will continue to be hot and dry, accompanied by strong winds. In the Kinneret, the Jordan Valley and in the Negev region, the hot and dry weather will continue and may get even more extreme.
On Friday, a steep drop in temperatures is expected along with a rise in humidity. Rain is possible in the North and centeral Israel. On Saturday, the drop in temperatures will continue and temperatures will be lower than usual for the season. Rain is likely in the North and central Israel.
Dr. Baruch Ziv, a meteorologist from the Open University, explained that "today there will be a classic spring heat wave. In April, a heat wave of this sort could reach 40 degrees Celsius. When it occurs in May, we can reach very high temperatures. Normally, the system which creates heat waves is weakened in May but this year May has had many days with strong south-easterly winds." He added that there was a strong possibility that the temperatures this week will be record-breaking.
"There is a great possibility that in many places last week's records will be broken," Dr. Ziv said. "There is a struggle between two factors: one is the flow of hot air from the desert, and the other are mid-level clouds that will cover the sky. It is possible they will moderate the heat, but in my opinion, the area of land that will have over 40 degrees Celsius weather will be notable. This doesn’t mean that the weather this coming summer will be exceptional."
The Fire Department is preparing to deal with a record number of incidents. The head of the operations branch of the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, Officer Shmulik Friedman, said that "besides the heat, we are also worried about low humidity and winds. I must highlight that this is coming after a string of very hot and dry days. For us this is a danger. We are highly coordinated with the police, the army, JNF-KKL, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and of course the aerial firefighters. We have reinforced forces throughout the whole country in a truly unprecedented manner".
Firefighters in Haifa and in the North are following weather forecast updates and are prepared for the heat wave. Despite the high temperatures, the Fire Department points out that last week's heat wave was accompanied by strong winds, which is not what is expected on Wednesday.
At fire houses, all on-call units were reinforced, and points of manned take-offs were only opened for extreme situations. Moreover, the amount of firefighting airplanes on guard in the North were doubled and there are thus four planes available.
Magen David Adom spokesman Zaki Heller pointed out that "on days like this, when temperatures jump, we have an increase in cases of dehydration, fainting and fatigue, and we beseech those most vulnerable, the old, children, babies and the chronically ill, to pay attention to our instructions." Deputy head of the IDF Operations Directive, brig.-gen. Shuki Ziso, said police will provide situation updates in coordination with all regional police stations and with the heads of Israel emergency services, and if necessary a special command post will be established.
Police emergency call centers will be reinforced. Ziso has directed rescue units to be especially ready in order to help tour groups if necessary, including a concern for dehydration. The aerial police unit will be ready to aid firefighters in the event of fires spreading, so that a helicopter will report to a command center on access roads for firefighters and the evacuation of people if necessary.
The Israel Electric Corporation said Tuesday that due to the expected heat wave they will not cut off service to clients that are in debt to the company. The company pointed out that despite overall readiness, faults can occur.
A bushfire spread into a street in Tel Mond in the Sharon plains on Wednesday, causing gas tanks to explode and causing damage to the electricity infrastructure on the street. No one was hurt in the fire.
Firefighting teams gained control of the fire, which has spread to three homes, burning them to the ground.
A wheelchair-bound 80-year-old woman was rescued from one of the homes after her son and grandson, who live nearby and were home at the time, smelled the smoke, went outside to see what was happening and noticed the three homes on fire. They rushed to the grandmother's home, which also caught fire, and rescued her.
She was taken to a clinic in Tel Mond so doctors could assess her situation, while her home suffered significant damages in the fire.
A large forest fire was ranging the Nahal Sorek area near Beit Shemesh. Twenty firefighting teams and four firefighting aircraft were working to put out the fire, with more crews on their way.
Another fire broke out near the village of Mabu'im in southern Israel. Residents were asked to evacuate their homes due to concern the fire will spread.
In the Jerusalem area, two firefighting teams were working to put out a bushfire near a structure in Arab neighborhood of Ras al-Amud. Six people were lightly hurt and damage was caused to the structure.
Six firefighting teams were able to reach control over a bushfire in the Atarot industrial area in northern Jerusalem, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes. The firefighters said aronists were setting fire around them while they were working. Other Jerusalem firefighting teams were working to put out fires in several other sites across the capital.
In Petah Tikvah, a two-year-old baby girl was left for about two hours in a car in the blazing heat. Her mother called Magen David Adom paramedics to the scene, who treated her and took her to hospital in light and stable condition. The baby's mother left her in the car in the parking lot and went up to her apartment. The girl was discovered only after her daycare teacher called to ask why the baby did not arrive at daycare.
Several departures were delayed at Ben Gurion International Airport, because the extreme heat damages plane engines' operation. Several passengers had to return to the terminal and some of the planes had to remove some of the luggage from the cargo hold so the lighter aircraft would have an easier time taking off. The Israel Railways limited train speed to 80 kph due to the heat, which would cause delays and changes on most train lines.
Record-breaking heat
Extremely high temperatures were forecasted to hit Israel on Wednesday, with 42 degrees Celsius expected in Tel Aviv, 40 in Haifa and "only" 37 in Jerusalem.
The Fire Department was preparing for the heat wave with 600 men at fire houses. Twelve firefighting aircraft are at the ready and the public has been warned not to make any fires, including bonfires. Magen David Adom has released special directives fearing cases of dehydration. Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has cancelled field trips in areas expected to be affected by the extreme heat.
The heat wave is expected to break by Thursday morning, and there will be a change in the weather with a rainy weekend forecasted. The heat wave will first break on along the coastline and then gradually inland. Eastern Israel will continue to be hot and dry, accompanied by strong winds. In the Kinneret, the Jordan Valley and in the Negev region, the hot and dry weather will continue and may get even more extreme.
On Friday, a steep drop in temperatures is expected along with a rise in humidity. Rain is possible in the North and centeral Israel. On Saturday, the drop in temperatures will continue and temperatures will be lower than usual for the season. Rain is likely in the North and central Israel.
Dr. Baruch Ziv, a meteorologist from the Open University, explained that "today there will be a classic spring heat wave. In April, a heat wave of this sort could reach 40 degrees Celsius. When it occurs in May, we can reach very high temperatures. Normally, the system which creates heat waves is weakened in May but this year May has had many days with strong south-easterly winds." He added that there was a strong possibility that the temperatures this week will be record-breaking.
"There is a great possibility that in many places last week's records will be broken," Dr. Ziv said. "There is a struggle between two factors: one is the flow of hot air from the desert, and the other are mid-level clouds that will cover the sky. It is possible they will moderate the heat, but in my opinion, the area of land that will have over 40 degrees Celsius weather will be notable. This doesn’t mean that the weather this coming summer will be exceptional."
The Fire Department is preparing to deal with a record number of incidents. The head of the operations branch of the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, Officer Shmulik Friedman, said that "besides the heat, we are also worried about low humidity and winds. I must highlight that this is coming after a string of very hot and dry days. For us this is a danger. We are highly coordinated with the police, the army, JNF-KKL, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, and of course the aerial firefighters. We have reinforced forces throughout the whole country in a truly unprecedented manner".
Firefighters in Haifa and in the North are following weather forecast updates and are prepared for the heat wave. Despite the high temperatures, the Fire Department points out that last week's heat wave was accompanied by strong winds, which is not what is expected on Wednesday.
At fire houses, all on-call units were reinforced, and points of manned take-offs were only opened for extreme situations. Moreover, the amount of firefighting airplanes on guard in the North were doubled and there are thus four planes available.
Magen David Adom spokesman Zaki Heller pointed out that "on days like this, when temperatures jump, we have an increase in cases of dehydration, fainting and fatigue, and we beseech those most vulnerable, the old, children, babies and the chronically ill, to pay attention to our instructions." Deputy head of the IDF Operations Directive, brig.-gen. Shuki Ziso, said police will provide situation updates in coordination with all regional police stations and with the heads of Israel emergency services, and if necessary a special command post will be established.
Police emergency call centers will be reinforced. Ziso has directed rescue units to be especially ready in order to help tour groups if necessary, including a concern for dehydration. The aerial police unit will be ready to aid firefighters in the event of fires spreading, so that a helicopter will report to a command center on access roads for firefighters and the evacuation of people if necessary.
The Israel Electric Corporation said Tuesday that due to the expected heat wave they will not cut off service to clients that are in debt to the company. The company pointed out that despite overall readiness, faults can occur.
26 may 2015
Israeli soldiers kidnapped, Monday, a Palestinian from the northern West Bank city of Jenin, after stopping him on a roadblock east of Bethlehem. Extremist Israeli settlers torch several Dunams of Palestinian agricultural lands near Bethlehem.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers installed a sudden roadblock, near the main entrance of Teqoua’ village, east of Bethlehem, searched cars, and kidnapped one Palestinian.
The kidnapped Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Mahmoud al-Qadery, 27 years of age, is from Bir al-Basha, near Jenin; he was heading to his work in Hebron.
In related news, a number of Israeli extremists set fire to nearly 10 Dunams (2.47 Acres) of Palestinian agricultural lands in the al-Kaneesa area, in the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem.
Local firefighters managed to contain the fire before it spread further.
Eyewitnesses said the soldiers installed a sudden roadblock, near the main entrance of Teqoua’ village, east of Bethlehem, searched cars, and kidnapped one Palestinian.
The kidnapped Palestinian, identified as Mohammad Mahmoud al-Qadery, 27 years of age, is from Bir al-Basha, near Jenin; he was heading to his work in Hebron.
In related news, a number of Israeli extremists set fire to nearly 10 Dunams (2.47 Acres) of Palestinian agricultural lands in the al-Kaneesa area, in the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem.
Local firefighters managed to contain the fire before it spread further.
23 may 2015
Israeli soldiers attacked, on Friday, the weekly nonviolent protest against the Annexation Wall and settlements in Bil’in village, near the central West Bank city of Ramallah, causing several injuries, while olive orchards caught fire due to Israeli gas bombs and concussion grenades.
The Palestinians, Israeli and international peace activists marched chanting against the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine, its continuous violations and the illegal construction and expansion of colonies in occupied Palestine.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements said the soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at the nonviolent protesters, and invaded the western parts of the village. Many protesters suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Some of the Israeli bombs caused fire in olive orchards belonging to residents Mohammad Mustafa Abu Rahma and Ashraf al-Khatib.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, Abdullah Abu Rahma, called for an ongoing struggle against the Israeli occupation, and its illegal policies.
Abu Rahma said Netanyahu, and his fanatic right-wing government are forcibly displacing the Bedouins, especially in Abu Nuwwar area, east of occupied East Jerusalem, and Sousa area near Yatta in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
The Palestinians, Israeli and international peace activists marched chanting against the ongoing Israeli occupation of Palestine, its continuous violations and the illegal construction and expansion of colonies in occupied Palestine.
The Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements said the soldiers fired dozens of gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at the nonviolent protesters, and invaded the western parts of the village. Many protesters suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Some of the Israeli bombs caused fire in olive orchards belonging to residents Mohammad Mustafa Abu Rahma and Ashraf al-Khatib.
Coordinator of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, Abdullah Abu Rahma, called for an ongoing struggle against the Israeli occupation, and its illegal policies.
Abu Rahma said Netanyahu, and his fanatic right-wing government are forcibly displacing the Bedouins, especially in Abu Nuwwar area, east of occupied East Jerusalem, and Sousa area near Yatta in the southern West Bank district of Hebron.
21 may 2015
Israeli soldiers fired, on Thursday evening, a number of firebombs into Palestinian farmlands, planted with wheat, east of Jabalia, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.
The Civil Defense office in Jabalia said the fire consumed around a Dunam (0.247 Acres) before firefighters managed to contain it.
It added that this Israeli violation was the fourth in 24 hours, targeting the eastern area of northern Gaza, especially around the Shuhada Graveyard, east of Jabalia.
On Wednesday evening, Israeli navy ships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats in the al-Waha and as-Sudaniyya areas, in Gaza, causing excessive damage but no injuries.
On Wednesday morning, several Israeli military vehicles, and four armored bulldozers, carried out on a limited invasion into an area, east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
The Civil Defense office in Jabalia said the fire consumed around a Dunam (0.247 Acres) before firefighters managed to contain it.
It added that this Israeli violation was the fourth in 24 hours, targeting the eastern area of northern Gaza, especially around the Shuhada Graveyard, east of Jabalia.
On Wednesday evening, Israeli navy ships opened fire on Palestinian fishing boats in the al-Waha and as-Sudaniyya areas, in Gaza, causing excessive damage but no injuries.
On Wednesday morning, several Israeli military vehicles, and four armored bulldozers, carried out on a limited invasion into an area, east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.
20 may 2015
Israeli settlers, Wednesday morning, burned down 90 olive trees in Sarta town, near Salfit, in the southern occupied West Bank.
Eyewitnesses and farmers from the town said, according to the PNN, that Israeli occupation fire trucks and vehicles arrived to the scene, but did not interfere.
The witnesses added that fingers are pointing, again, toward Israeli settlers, since the town is annexed to the bypass road used regularly by settlers. It is also located between the two settlements of Brukin and Ariel.
Journalist and researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the olive trees recently have been repeatedly targeted by settlers, causing the damage of thousands of trees in several areas.
Last month as well, Israeli settlers, most likely entering Salfit from the Immanuel settlement annexing Deir Istiya village, uprooted some 450 olive trees planted by Palestinian farmers.
On Sunday, settlers from Azfar and Bani Kadim, near Shyoukh village, East Hebron, uprooted or stole about 800 olive trees.
According to a report by the PLO international relations department, occupation forces and settlers cut down and destroyed more than 755 olive trees in the month of April alone.
During 2014, some 10,596 trees and seedlings were uprooted, with numbers still rising in 2015.
Eyewitnesses and farmers from the town said, according to the PNN, that Israeli occupation fire trucks and vehicles arrived to the scene, but did not interfere.
The witnesses added that fingers are pointing, again, toward Israeli settlers, since the town is annexed to the bypass road used regularly by settlers. It is also located between the two settlements of Brukin and Ariel.
Journalist and researcher Khaled Ma'ali said that the olive trees recently have been repeatedly targeted by settlers, causing the damage of thousands of trees in several areas.
Last month as well, Israeli settlers, most likely entering Salfit from the Immanuel settlement annexing Deir Istiya village, uprooted some 450 olive trees planted by Palestinian farmers.
On Sunday, settlers from Azfar and Bani Kadim, near Shyoukh village, East Hebron, uprooted or stole about 800 olive trees.
According to a report by the PLO international relations department, occupation forces and settlers cut down and destroyed more than 755 olive trees in the month of April alone.
During 2014, some 10,596 trees and seedlings were uprooted, with numbers still rising in 2015.
19 may 2015
A Palestinian young man was injured Tuesday due to an explosion of a bomb during extinction of fire caused by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) in northern Jordan Valley in the morning.
Local official sources said that the 24-year-old man called Ali Kaabneh, from Wadi al-Maleh Bedouin neighborhood, was wounded by a bomb of the remnants of the IOF military drills in the area.
The young man was injured directly in the head and was transferred by an Israeli chopper to Afoleh Hospital, the sources added.
In a press statement on Tuesday, the official of Northern Jordan Valley Mutaz Bsharat said the IOF carried out, in the morning hours, military drills in the area which led to two fires that burnt 700 dunums of Palestinian lands.
In the same context, a third fire spread near Wadi al-Maleh and burned 2000 dunums of pastoral lands.
Local official sources said that the 24-year-old man called Ali Kaabneh, from Wadi al-Maleh Bedouin neighborhood, was wounded by a bomb of the remnants of the IOF military drills in the area.
The young man was injured directly in the head and was transferred by an Israeli chopper to Afoleh Hospital, the sources added.
In a press statement on Tuesday, the official of Northern Jordan Valley Mutaz Bsharat said the IOF carried out, in the morning hours, military drills in the area which led to two fires that burnt 700 dunums of Palestinian lands.
In the same context, a third fire spread near Wadi al-Maleh and burned 2000 dunums of pastoral lands.
Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) burned Tuesday morning pastoral lands in Atouf town near Tubas and prevented putting fire down, local sources revealed.
The village council’s president Bashar Bani Odeh said, in a press statement, the IOF soldiers burned pastoral lands in the vicinity of one of the Israeli nearby military camps, but the flames spread to the adjacent Palestinian pastorals which immediately caught on fire, Bani Odeh said.
He added that the Palestinian civil defense were unable to approach the fire locations due to rough roads and the IOF soldiers barred the Palestinians from putting fire down using simple tools.
Bani Odeh pointed out that the spreading fires approached the housing areas after burning hundreds of dunums of Palestinian pastoral lands.
The IOF has almost turned the lands in Northern Jordan Valley into military drills zones which resulted in great damage to the farms and pastoral lands in addition to dangerous remnants of military drills.
The village council’s president Bashar Bani Odeh said, in a press statement, the IOF soldiers burned pastoral lands in the vicinity of one of the Israeli nearby military camps, but the flames spread to the adjacent Palestinian pastorals which immediately caught on fire, Bani Odeh said.
He added that the Palestinian civil defense were unable to approach the fire locations due to rough roads and the IOF soldiers barred the Palestinians from putting fire down using simple tools.
Bani Odeh pointed out that the spreading fires approached the housing areas after burning hundreds of dunums of Palestinian pastoral lands.
The IOF has almost turned the lands in Northern Jordan Valley into military drills zones which resulted in great damage to the farms and pastoral lands in addition to dangerous remnants of military drills.
18 may 2015
Israeli settlers from the illegal settlement of Bat Ayin, northern Hebron area, set fire to an estimated 25 dunams of Palestinian land on Monday, destroying up to 250 olive trees, a local committee reported.
A spokesperson for the Beit Ummar popular committee, Muhammad Ayyad Awad, said that five Israeli settlers in white clothes between the ages of 16 and 20 had set fire to land in the Hilet Ikdeis north of Hebron.
Awad said, according to Ma'an News Agency, that the land was owned by Mahmoud Ali Abd al-Majid Hamdan, Naim Ahmad Abd al-Majid Hamdan, Muhammad Nour Abd al-Majid Hamdan and Wajih Ibrahim Abd al-Majid Hamdan.
Awad added that the land had been planted with olive trees, most of which were nearly 40 years old. He said that Israeli forces arrived on the scene, but alleged that they refused the landowners' demand that they call a firetruck to put out the fire.
The landowners said that they had been able to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.
The fire comes a day after locals in al-Shiokh, northeast of Hebron, reported that 80 acres of land planted with hundreds of olive saplings had been vandalized by Jewish settlers from nearby illegal settlements.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
A spokesperson for the Beit Ummar popular committee, Muhammad Ayyad Awad, said that five Israeli settlers in white clothes between the ages of 16 and 20 had set fire to land in the Hilet Ikdeis north of Hebron.
Awad said, according to Ma'an News Agency, that the land was owned by Mahmoud Ali Abd al-Majid Hamdan, Naim Ahmad Abd al-Majid Hamdan, Muhammad Nour Abd al-Majid Hamdan and Wajih Ibrahim Abd al-Majid Hamdan.
Awad added that the land had been planted with olive trees, most of which were nearly 40 years old. He said that Israeli forces arrived on the scene, but alleged that they refused the landowners' demand that they call a firetruck to put out the fire.
The landowners said that they had been able to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.
The fire comes a day after locals in al-Shiokh, northeast of Hebron, reported that 80 acres of land planted with hundreds of olive saplings had been vandalized by Jewish settlers from nearby illegal settlements.
Since 1967, approximately 800,000 olive trees have been uprooted by Israeli forces and settlers in the occupied West Bank, according to a joint report by the Palestinian Authority and the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem.
Dozens of
firefighting teams, assisted by airtankers, battle blazes in northern
and southern Israel, as Highways 1 and 2 close temporarily to keep
drivers away from conflagrations.
Twenty-two firefighting teams and a tanker were called to put out a massive brushfire near the settlement of Sal'it in the West Bank on Monday afternoon, as Israel experienced a heat wave.
Additional firefighting teams were called to aid in the fire and a request was made for the aid of airtankers. The wind drove the flames towards Sal'it, bringing the fire near the settlement's fence.
Firefighters across the country were at the highest level of preparedness Monday, due to a dry heat wave sweeping through Israel. Vacations were cancelled in multiple stations and more firefighters were present for each shift.
A dispatch point has been set up in the field to shorten the distance required for fire trucks to access important equipment.
Earlier in the day, dozens of teams of firefighters rushed to the scene of a large fire near Wadi Ara in the north of Israel and four aircraft circled above to provide support in an attempt to control the blaze. Firefighters from nearby Hadera said that the fire had burned some 50 acres of land and that it was under control.
A fire also broke out near the Atarot industrial zone in northern Jerusalem. Firefighters were working to keep the fire away from spreading towards nearby factories.
Another fire broke out near Yavne'el stream in the lower Galilee. Four firefighting teams and four airtanks were working to put out the fire.
Fires also broke out in Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights, in Safedm in the Beit She'an area and between Kafr Yasif and Abu Snan in the north, as well as in the moshavim Talmei Bilu and Maslul in the south.
Twenty-two firefighting teams and a tanker were called to put out a massive brushfire near the settlement of Sal'it in the West Bank on Monday afternoon, as Israel experienced a heat wave.
Additional firefighting teams were called to aid in the fire and a request was made for the aid of airtankers. The wind drove the flames towards Sal'it, bringing the fire near the settlement's fence.
Firefighters across the country were at the highest level of preparedness Monday, due to a dry heat wave sweeping through Israel. Vacations were cancelled in multiple stations and more firefighters were present for each shift.
A dispatch point has been set up in the field to shorten the distance required for fire trucks to access important equipment.
Earlier in the day, dozens of teams of firefighters rushed to the scene of a large fire near Wadi Ara in the north of Israel and four aircraft circled above to provide support in an attempt to control the blaze. Firefighters from nearby Hadera said that the fire had burned some 50 acres of land and that it was under control.
A fire also broke out near the Atarot industrial zone in northern Jerusalem. Firefighters were working to keep the fire away from spreading towards nearby factories.
Another fire broke out near Yavne'el stream in the lower Galilee. Four firefighting teams and four airtanks were working to put out the fire.
Fires also broke out in Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights, in Safedm in the Beit She'an area and between Kafr Yasif and Abu Snan in the north, as well as in the moshavim Talmei Bilu and Maslul in the south.
Meanwhile, a section of Highway 2 in the southbound direction was closed for an hour Monday because of a nearby fire, creating traffic jams in the area.
One of the lanes on Highway 1 was closed for westbound traffic due to a fire raging near Lifta, in the southern outskirts of Jerusalem.
A road leading to Highway one was also closed for traffic for a short period of time, creating traffic jams in the area.
A 70-year-old man collapsed in Givatayim in central Israel after suffering a heatstroke. Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated him to Tel HaShomer Medical Center in serious condition.
Electricity usage went through the roof, with some 9,800 megawatts of electricity used by 3:40 pm. For comparison, 11,320 megawatts were used in one day in June 2014, and the all-time record was registered in July 2012 when 11,900 megawatts were used in one day.
Temperatures in Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Netanya reached 41 degrees Celsius at noon Monday. Further north in Haifa and Zikhron Ya'akov, 40 degrees Celsius were measured. The Kinneret, the Negev and Eilat experienced 42 degrees Celsius, while the record temperatures were registered in the Jordan Valley - 43 degrees Celsius.
Jerusalem experienced only 34 degrees Celsius, while the lowest degrees were registered in Majdal Shams, which experienced only 30 degrees Celsius.
One of the lanes on Highway 1 was closed for westbound traffic due to a fire raging near Lifta, in the southern outskirts of Jerusalem.
A road leading to Highway one was also closed for traffic for a short period of time, creating traffic jams in the area.
A 70-year-old man collapsed in Givatayim in central Israel after suffering a heatstroke. Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated him to Tel HaShomer Medical Center in serious condition.
Electricity usage went through the roof, with some 9,800 megawatts of electricity used by 3:40 pm. For comparison, 11,320 megawatts were used in one day in June 2014, and the all-time record was registered in July 2012 when 11,900 megawatts were used in one day.
Temperatures in Tel Aviv, Ashdod and Netanya reached 41 degrees Celsius at noon Monday. Further north in Haifa and Zikhron Ya'akov, 40 degrees Celsius were measured. The Kinneret, the Negev and Eilat experienced 42 degrees Celsius, while the record temperatures were registered in the Jordan Valley - 43 degrees Celsius.
Jerusalem experienced only 34 degrees Celsius, while the lowest degrees were registered in Majdal Shams, which experienced only 30 degrees Celsius.