Jerusalem wildfires rage for second day as environmental groups blame Netanyahu

As wildfires continue to rage for a second day around Jerusalem, 20 Israeli environmental organizations on Thursday urged the government to act swiftly, blaming climate change and state inaction for the crisis.

The fires broke out early Wednesday in multiple locations near Jerusalem and along Highways 1, 3 and 11, threatening nearby villages and forcing the evacuation of 7,000 people. Thick smoke and fast-moving flames trapped dozens of cars and buses on Highway 1, prompting emergency teams to carry out rescue operations under dangerous conditions.

Several passengers were treated for smoke inhalation, and at least 12 firefighters sustained minor injuries. The flames devastated nearly the entire Canada Park forest and spread across nature reserves and open landscapes. While some evacuees were allowed to return home Thursday morning, the full extent of the damage remains unknown.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that 18 people had been detained in connection with the fires, including one caught in the act. However, Ynet, citing a police source, reported that only three arrests had been made, casting doubt on the official figures.

Environmental groups demand action

With fires still burning and communities reeling, environmental organizations placed the blame squarely on the government. In a joint letter sent to Netanyahu and other senior officials Thursday morning, 20 leading environmental groups accused authorities of ignoring years of warnings and failing to prepare for a crisis they say was both predictable and preventable.

In the letter, the organizations argued that the government repeatedly ignored warnings and recommendations from the State Comptroller regarding fire preparedness. They noted that the 2025 state budget shows a significant reduction in funding for fire and rescue services — from 1.99 billion shekels in 2024 to 1.77 billion in 2025. Many towns and villages at high risk, the groups warned, still lack real emergency plans.

"In the absence of action, nature will keep burning, including the animals within it, human lives will be at risk, and our shared, precious assets will be lost forever. It's time to put an end to repression and start dealing with reality. Not with words, but with actions," the letter read.

The groups emphasized that the failure to prepare for wildfires is part of a broader governmental failure to address the climate crisis.

They urged the government to implement 12 urgent measures to protect Israel’s environment and natural resources. They include establishing a multi-ministerial task force to address industrial pollution, allocating significant budgeting for a national CO2 reduction plan, integrating government systems to ensure real-time data sharing between ministries and agencies and improving cooperation with neighboring countries on fire response and other climate challenges. The organizations also called for installing cameras and monitoring devices in forests and nature reserves to enable rapid fire detection and identify cases of arson.

The organizations behind the letter included some of the most prominent Israeli nature-protection groups such as Adam Teva V'Din and the Israeli Environment Movement. In early March, the latter sent a letter to Netanyahu urging him to convene an emergency meeting to address the risks posed by this year’s severe drought and high temperatures, warning that major fires could soon break out if preventive measures were not taken.

International aid

Firefighting services reported Thursday morning that they had gained partial control over the fires that broke out Wednesday, enabling authorities to reopen highways that had been closed. Winds that intensified the blazes on Wednesday also subsided, allowing firefighters to work more effectively. However, the wind is expected to return Thursday afternoon, likely complicating efforts again. 

Several European countries have offered assistance. According to Dan District fire chief Boaz Rakia, international aid started arriving in Israel Thursday afternoon. Canadair planes from Cyprus and Croatia have already landed in Israel. Romania, Italy, Spain and France are expected to send similar aircraft later in the day. Ukraine has also offered assistance and may dispatch planes or helicopters to support firefighting efforts. The Palestinian Authority offered to help by sending firefighters, but Israeli authorities did not respond to the offer. 

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X Wednesday night in Hebrew, "Full solidarity with the Israeli people who are facing terrible fires. Our thoughts are with the injured and the rescue workers who are fighting so bravely. France is ready to provide material support in the next few hours."

President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen also posted on X, "We support the fight against devastating fires in Israel. We have activated our European Civil Protection Mechanism. Firefighter planes from Greece, Cyprus, Croatia and Italy are on their way to help fight the blaze. This is EU solidarity in action."

Failure to battle climate change

Last month, Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Protection submitted a report to the United Nations outlining the country’s commitments and progress in reducing CO2 emissions. In the report, submitted under the 2015 climate agreement, the ministry admitted it would not stay on track to meet its targets unless major policy changes are enacted swiftly.

According to the report, "In the last decade, the temperature in Israel was on average 1.8 degrees [Celsius] higher than the average temperature in Israel in the years 1979-1950," adding, "The increase in the summer months is more significant and in the last eight years it was 2.8 degrees higher than the average in the years 1979-1950."

The report presents two predictions: the current trajectory through to the end of the decade and a projection incorporating recommended interventions.

Gil Proaktor, director of the Climate Change Mitigation Division, said the government faces a stark choice as the gap between the two possibilities is significant. "Our business-as-usual scenario shows that Israel will not reach the goal it is committed to, a 27% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030. Rather, we will see a reduction of just 19%," he told Al-Monitor. "But if the government decides to follow our recommendations for additional steps, then we will not only reach our goals, but could go as far as 29%," he added.

Proaktor said that the government must act quickly.

First, Israel must raise its share of renewable energy to at least 30%, as promised in the climate agreement. Achieving that goal will require reforms to energy tariffs, expansion of the energy grid and new tax incentives for solar power generation. Second, the government must introduce stricter import regulations to encourage less polluting and more electric vehicles, while simultaneously accelerating public transportation development to reduce traffic-related emissions. Third, Israel must improve waste treatment systems by requiring landfills to capture methane gas and use it for thermal energy or electricity generation.

To implement these steps, Proaktor said, the Knesset must adopt a comprehensive climate law that clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of all government ministries.

“We need strong legislation, anchoring the goals for the ministries for the long run, much like most other OECD countries. This is not an easy thing to do. We are struggling to get it approved,” he admitted.

By Thursday evening, the firefighters had succeeded controlling some of the blazes, but dozens of teams are continuing to operate in five areas where the flames are still burning. Winds are expected to blow stronger Thursday night, making it harder to battle the fires.

This developing story has been updated since initial publication.