Wildfires rage outside Jerusalem, forcing evacuations and road closures
CNNAPR 20
Wildfires Rage Near Jerusalem, Forcing Evacuations
Above: People watch as an army airplane drops fire retardant in the distance in Jerusalem, Israel on April 30, 2025. Image copyright: Amir Levy/Stringer/Getty Images Europe via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The authorities have not handled these wildfires well, and international assistance will not have a meaningful impact on firefighters' ability to combat them. The police took too long to close roads, namely the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, despite the fires' rapid spread. First responders and firefighters will have to wait for the winds to weaken before effective operations to contain the fires are carried out.
Narrative B
These fires were likely the result of a terrorist attack, with Hamas and other terror groups calling for Palestinians to "burn whatever you can." Indeed, Israeli authorities have already arrested multiple people who seemingly took part in starting the fires. Israel will need to crack down on these arsonists and the people that support them with an iron fist.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Like clockwork, Israeli media is blaming Palestinians for natural phenomena that happen every year. The cause of the fires is extreme weather conditions that are being experienced throughout the region and Israel's planting of highly flammable European pine trees, which are not native to the area. Accusations that Palestinians started the fires are ludicrous and only serve to incite violence.