Firefighters continued to combat severe wildfires near Jerusalem for a second day, working urgently to contain the blazes before anticipated strong winds increased the danger. Authorities reopened vital transport routes and allowed evacuees to return home, following disruptions caused by the fires during Independence Day celebrations. Prime Minister Netanyahu noted that arson suspects had been detained, with conditions such as dryness and strong winds contributing to the fires' spread. International firefighting assistance was on the way, although collaboration with Palestinian authorities appeared uncertain, despite prior efforts in similar situations.
We're doing everything we can to finish in the coming hours because the wind gusts can bring us back to where we started, she said by telephone.
The exact cause of the fires was unclear, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that 18 people had been detained on suspicion of arson.
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