Israel is facing a catastrophic wildfire disaster close to Jerusalem, and as the fires continue to burn out of control, the government has called for emergency international assistance.
As the fires threaten to spread to additional cities, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar made a plea on Wednesday for assistance from neighboring nations, including Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Croatia, and Bulgaria.
Since they started early on Wednesday, the fires have already caused road closures, prompted the evacuation of multiple localities, and caused widespread panic. As firemen and military troops fought to stop the swiftly growing flames, authorities closed Highway 1, a crucial thoroughfare between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Israel Katz, the country’s defense minister, has declared a “national emergency” due to the crisis-level scenario.
