12 arrested on suspicion of arson over series of wildfires in Israel

PanARMENIAN.Net - Israeli police have arrested 12 people on suspicion of arson over a series of wildfires that have burned around the country for four days, BBC News reports.

Firefighters have brought a blaze under control around the northern city of Haifa, where about 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate.

But officials say several smaller fires are still being tackled in different locations. The blazes have been fanned by hot, dry weather and high winds. Several people have been treated for smoke inhalation but no serious injuries have been reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that if any of the fires were started deliberately they would be treated as an act of terrorism.

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, hinted at seditious Israeli Arab or Palestinian involvement, Tweeting: "Only those to whom the country does not belong are capable of burning it."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement said Israeli officials were "exploiting the fire" to accuse Palestinians.

Despite the fire around Haifa calming, fire officials warned it would be several days before they could fully extinguish what remains of the blaze.

Overnight hundreds of people were evacuated from the town of Beit Meir near Jerusalem after several homes caught fire.

Police blamed the fire there on arson and three suspects have been arrested, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Another town in the north, Horashim, has also been evacuated as a blaze approaches, Haaretz reported.

Palestinian firefighting crews were despatched from the West Bank to help efforts in Haifa.

The team's head, Abdulatif Abu Amshah, said: "Firefighters, their aim is to stop fire. No need to look of religion or anything else."

A US supertanker, capable of carrying 74 tonnes of water and fire retardant, is due to arrive in Israel on Friday to assist.

Several other countries - including Cyprus, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Greece - have also sent help and equipment, including aircraft, to help tackle the blazes.

The fires are the worst since 2010, when 44 people died in a fire on Mount Carmel, just south of Haifa.