Australia extends hand to fight Israeli fires

FOREIGN Minister Kevin Rudd has extended condolences to the 40 victims of Israel’s unseasonal bushfires and offered assistance if required.

He also acknowledged that the Australian Jewish community, “which has very close ties to Israel” will be “particularly affected by this tragedy”.

With Israel experiencing an unusually hot and dry start to winter, bushfires broke out in the country’s north.

The fires, which are burning out of control, saw 12,000 people evacuated and a bus full of 40 cadets go up in flames after being blocked in by burning trees. The cadets were on their way to help evacuate prisoners, whose prison was in the line of the fire.

Rudd issued a heartfelt statement from Bahrain, saying he will convey his condolences in person when he arrives in Israel for the Australia-Israel Leadership Forum the week after next.

“On behalf of the Government and Australian people, I express my deep concern and extend condolences on the loss of at least 40 lives from bushfires still raging out of control near Haifa, in northern Israel,” he said.

“My feelings are with the people affected, including those who have been evacuated.

“Australia knows directly the devastating impact inflicted by bushfires.”

He acknowledged that Israel’s allies, including Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Egypt, France, Jordan, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom, have all provided assistance to help fight the fires. Firefighting aircraft from these countries was expected to begin arriving on Friday.

“Australia stands ready to offer assistance to Israel,” Rudd said. “Israeli authorities are considering what assistance could be of practical benefits.”

The Foreign Minister added that as far as Australia’s embassy in Tel Aviv could ascertain, no Australians were affected by the fire.

He added he would speak shortly with his counterpart, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu called the fire an “unprecedented disaster”.

On Thursday evening visited the combined situation room at Haifa University, where he was briefed by officials in charge of the bushfires.

According to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office, communities in the area would be evacuated and Israelis were called on not to approach the fire zone.

“I would like to express support for the firefighters, police, soldiers, Magen David Adom personnel and all the people who, together, are pitching in and working so that we will overcome this tragedy. We will save lives and we will put out the fire,” Netanyahu said.

NAOMI LEVIN

PHOTO: Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu in the bushfire briefing centre. Photo: Amos BenGershom/GPO. Courtesy: Prime Minister of Israel.