Firefighters in the Jerusalem area have been extremely busy of late due to the many large blazes. This continued over the weekend with fires reported on erev Shabbos Parshas Balak 5774 in Har Choma and Ramat Rachel. Firemen worked for hours to bring the fires under control. Simultaneously, authorities were dispatched to Even Sapir amid reports efforts were underway to start another fire at that location.

On Shabbos 7 Tammuz there were at least ten additional fire incidents in the Jerusalem district. At present, officials believe they were arson, perhaps signaling the beginning of the Fire Intifada.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)