Israeli minister claims: Nearly half of fires were arson

Israel’s minister for public security claimed on Wednesday that forty to fifty percent of the fires that broke out across Israel last week were the result of arson.

Speaking at the Israeli parliament, Gilad Erdan said that his claim regarding the percentage of fires started by arson was based upon “the estimates of professionals” and that the Fire Services back up his claim, according to Times of Israel.

According to Yoram Levy, spokesman of the Israeli Fire Services, firefighters battled 1,773 brush fires around Israel and the occupied West Bank from November 18 to November 26.

Erdan called into question that number, saying that in many cases “20 people called in about the same event, and this was counted,” and that in other cases fires from unrelated car crashes were also included.

Erdan said that his claim of 40-50% of fires being the result of arson was calculated from what the Fire Services described as 39 significant fires, and was based upon “findings from the ground.”

On Tuesday the Israel Police said it was too early to determine how many of the hundreds of wildfires that spread across Israel last week were the result of arson.

As of Tuesday, police had arrested at least 35 people on suspicion of arson or incitement to arson.