Israeli police arrest 18 people suspected of arson Amidst wildfires

At the annual International Bible Contest on May 1 in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that police have arrested 18 people suspected of arson, including one individual caught in the act.

The Fire and Rescue Services has so far said that the cause of the massive fires, which continue to blaze in some areas, is not yet clear, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

Netanyahu averred that one of the suspects was caught in the act of arson. 

The Fire and Rescue Services has so far said that the cause of the massive fires is not yet clear.

Netanyahu says the blaze “is not a simple thing, there is harm to nature and also harm to people, and we’re holding 18 people at the moment who are suspected of arson, one of whom was caught in the act.”

The prime minister notes he is “sure that we will succeeded in dealing with this challenge as well. We’re doing everything we can to thwart the fire and rehabilitate what was destroyed.”

Israel is currently grappling with one of the most severe wildfire crises in its history, with fires erupting near Jerusalem and spreading rapidly due to hot, dry weather and strong winds. The blazes have led to mass evacuations, significant environmental damage, and a national emergency declaration by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.​

The wildfires ignited on April 30, 2025, near Mesilat Zion, west of Jerusalem, and have since expanded to over 100 locations. Approximately 20,000 dunams (about 5,000 acres) of land have been scorched, including forests and nature reserves.

Communities such as Neve Shalom, Beko'a, Ta'oz, Mevo Horon, Mishmar Ayalon, and Nahshon were evacuated. Major highways, including Route 1 between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, were temporarily closed due to the advancing flames

By Khagan Isayev