Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu stated that 18 individuals had been arrested on suspicion of arson, adding that one of them was caught "in the act" on Thursday afternoon at the International Bible Quiz,
The Jerusalem Post reports.
However, police sources told N12 on Thursday that they were surprised by this assertion, as they were only aware of three confirmed arrests.
The cause of the extensive fires, which have caused widespread damage to the Jerusalem Hills area, remains unclear.
One of the arrested suspects, whose detention was reported on Wednesday, was believed to have attempted to ignite an additional fire in southern Jerusalem after the main wildfires already bork out.
Authorities continue their investigation, with firefighting teams working to determine the fire’s origin points, some of which have proven difficult to access, N12 noted.
In his speech at the closing of the International Bible Quiz in Jerusalem, Netanyahu took a moment to praise the efforts of firefighting and rescue teams.
Quoting from the Bible, he remarked: "As fire burns the forest and as flame sets the mountains on fire," adding, "I want to express my support for the firefighting forces and all those assisting in the protection of the land. We have detained 18 individuals, one of whom was apprehended while in the act."
