Palestinian Firefighters Stand Ready, Israel Looks to Europe
Wildfires tore across the outskirts of Jerusalem this week, blanketing the sky with smoke and forcing entire neighborhoods to pick up and flee. As the danger inched closer to homes in Neve Shalom and Nachshon, and vital highways like Route 1 had to be shut down, Israel sounded the alarm on a national emergency scale. Against this tense backdrop, the Palestinian Authority (PA) quietly offered Israel a helping hand, putting their own firefighting teams on standby—ready to rush in if called upon.
What's striking here is not just the fire itself, described by Jerusalem’s top fire official Shmulik Friedman as "maybe the largest in Israeli history," but the overture from the PA. Past disasters have seen Palestinians crossing political and literal frontlines, like in the wildfires of 2010 and 2016, to lend manpower and expertise. This time, though, Israel’s government hasn’t given any official reply, leaving PA crews waiting anxiously on the sidelines while the flames rage on.
The wildfire’s speed and intensity surprised even seasoned Israeli crews. With strong winds and bone-dry air, flames leapt across hills southwest of Jerusalem at a pace that outstripped firefighting gear on the ground. The situation got so dire that Israel turned to old friends and sometimes-rivals in Europe. This plea brought firefighting aircraft from countries like Cyprus, Italy, and Croatia, who landed in Israel to join the air war against the advancing blaze.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the reins at the national command center, personally overseeing coordination between Israel's aerial squadrons, police choppers, and international pilots. At one point, it looked like the wind might turn in favor of the firefighters, but the fickle weather drove the fire even closer to densely populated areas. With every hour that neighborhoods stayed in harm’s way, pressure mounted for a breakthrough.
Delicate Cooperation—and Tense Waiting
Even in the throes of regional conflict, nature’s disasters can open a brief window for cooperation. The PA has twice before sent firefighters to Israel, and their teams are well-trained after so many years battling blazes in their own communities. Their readiness to help in 2024 isn’t entirely about politics—sometimes it’s just the firefighter’s code. But with tensions never far from the surface, waiting for Israel’s nod is anything but straightforward for the PA.
So why does Israel hesitate? Some argue that in national emergencies, every available hand should be welcomed, regardless of politics. Others worry that accepting Palestinian support could set off political arguments from hardliners and skeptics, both in government and among the public. Whatever the reason, the radio silence continues, even as air tankers from across Europe buzz through the smoky air over Israel.
Residents displaced by the fires find themselves caught between relief at the global response and the frustration of watching bureaucracy sideline local offers of help. Meanwhile, first responders remain locked in a desperate fight, knowing that every hour counts when flames brush the edges of a capital city. If the PA’s firefighters are finally given the green light, they’ll be ready—not just to cross a border, but to push back against something that doesn’t care who drew the map in the first place.