Wildfires Rage Near Jerusalem, Three Arrested on Suspicion of Arson

Three individuals have been arrested on suspicion of arson that caused destructive wildfires in the Jerusalem area, the Jerusalem Post reported yesterday.

Destruction: At least five devastating wildfires, which began early Wednesday, rage in the Judean foothills. Major highways have been closed, evacuations have been ordered, and all Israeli Independence Day events have been canceled.

An estimated 2,900 acres have burned. The fires remain uncontained despite widespread firefighting efforts, including international support. Current weather conditions of high winds and heat are making efforts to contain the fires more difficult.

No serious injuries have been reported, though numerous people are being treated for burns and smoke inhalation.

Suspect: Though police say it is too early to report the cause of the wildfires, they have reported that among those arrested was a 50-year-old resident of Umm Tuba, a Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Israeli police said they found a lighter, cotton wool and other incendiary materials on his person.

• Hamas’s calls for arson in Israel spread across various social media platforms on Tuesday.
• “Set fires of freedom everywhere. We will not give in and will not give up until we burn every piece of stolen land,” said one video.
• Another message incited Palestinians to “burn whatever you can of groves, forests and settler homes.”

Half of Jerusalem: The Trumpet has long warned that increasing tensions between Jews and Arabs will lead to the fall of East Jerusalem into Palestinian control, according to a prophecy in the book of Zechariah. It is becoming increasingly apparent that this is where events are trending.

To understand, read “Is the Fall of East Jerusalem Imminent?”