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Fires ignite both incitement and cooperation in Israel

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Global Fire Watch map showing multiple ME fires at 24.11.16

Published: 29 November 2016

Last updated: 4 March 2024

To date arson was said proved for 17 of about 110 fires in Israel (by the Defence Minister), or not proved at all yet but suspected for 25 out of a total of 1,773 fires (according to the Firefighters Authority), with no evidence of national organisation. Multiple fires have burned in the same period in the West Bank and adjacent states, with aridity, climate change and regional wind patterns among indicated causes. There has been incitement against Arab citizens of Israel by Netanyahu and others and incitement on social media by both Jews and Arabs. Israel has received help from the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Egypt, the USA, Russia, Turkey, France, Spain, Canada, Greece, Croatia, Italy and Cyprus.

Forests of hate: fire imitates art in Israel – Meron Rapoport – Middle East Eye 26.11.16
The fact that blazes also broke out near Palestinian villages and towns inside Israel as well as in the West Bank, in addition to similar fires in Lebanon and Syria, seems to suggest that premeditated arson would have played but a small part in this wave of fires.

Senior ministers vow to fight fires with settlement building – Raoul Wootliff – The Times of Israel 27.11.16
Liberman and Bennett make separate visits to ravaged Halamish; defence minister says authorities have proof that 17 of 110 recorded outbreaks were caused by arson.

Israel's biggest threat is 'nationalistic' demon of Netanyahu, former PM Barak says – Haaretz 29.11.16
Barak also accused Netanyahu's and his ministers of being 'populists' who exploited massive fires to incite against Israeli Arabs.

Israel fire: police deny claims that blazes were caused by 'terrorism' - Yaniv Kubovich & Gili Cohen – Haaretz 29.11.16
In a dispute with tax authorities proposing state compensation for fire victims, police say it has not yet been determined which if any of last week's fires were caused by arson.

WATCH: In Haifa, decades-long coexistence endures trial by fire – Dov Lieber – The Times of Israel 28.11.16
Residents of ravaged port city insist no arsonist came from their midst. Includes video by Luke Tress – may load slowly but worth persisting [4:48].
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