If you’re still recovering from turkey (and football!) overload – like so many of us, you may have missed the latest news from Israel where – for the past four days – they’ve been battling numerous raging wildfires. Here’s a recent report from the Times of Israel ~ Israel on fire — what we know, and what we don’t ~

Such fires are not uncommon at this time of year, at the end of the long, dry summer, and with seasonal winds capable of quickly whipping up a casually thrown cigarette or a bonfire into a full-scale blaze. But as the number of fires multiplied on Wednesday and Thursday, allegations spread that many of the blazes were being deliberately set.
 
Those claims were confirmed by Israel’s police chief Roni Alsheich, who said on Thursday afternoon that some, though by no means all, of the fires were the result of arson, presumably with a “nationalistic” motivation, he said.

 
As Palestinians, Arab World Celebrate, Take Credit for Israeli Fires With #IsraelIsBurning Hashtag, it’s no wonder that the Jerusalem Post is asking are we looking at a new form of eco-terrorism? ~

Fires from an estimated 220 points of origin have broken out throughout central and northern Israel since Wednesday and assessments by police have strengthened suspicions that many were deliberately set […]
 

 
Michael Horowitz, director of intelligence at Prime Source, a Middle East-based geopolitical consultancy firm, agreed. “It is too early to conclude that this is a “new form of terrorism,” but it definitely can turn into that because of the virality of the trend,” he told the Post, adding that “it’s been praised by Hamas, and the hashtag “Israel is burning” is trending in Arabic. The mere perception of success can be enough to encourage copycat attacks.”

In fact, the UK Independent reports that an Al-Qaeda linked Palestinian militant group ‘claims responsibility’ for devastating Haifa blaze. Although, militants offer no proof of ‘questionable’ claim as firefighters continue to battle flames.
 

For American Christians, Thanksgiving of course is a special time to thank the Lord for our many blessings. Among the many things I have to be grateful for I always include the state of Israel and the Jewish people themselves. Pray for their peace, their safety, and for rain!

I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
~ Genesis 12:2-3

 
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Related:

Foreign planes combat Israel wildfires as arrests made

Israel Fire Updates ~ Haaretz has news on the latest developments