Arson and terrorism suspected in forest fire on Israel's main highway

As Israel's Independence Day comes about, many festivities had to sadly be cancelled because of a huge forest fire that broke out on the highway to Jerusalem, which is now suspected to have been terrorist-based arson:

Large brushfires were blazing Wednesday in the Eshtaol Forest on the outskirts of Jerusalem, forcing the evacuations of some communities and the closure of roads.

It was the second time in the space of a week that fires in the hills to the west of the capital have led to the evacuation of residents.

The Fire and Rescue Service reported fires were raging in at least five places in the Jerusalem hills.

It's very disturbing and disgusting. Breitbart notes:

Posts on social media showed the fire advancing on the outskirts of Jerusalem, as residents abandoned cars.

מטורף האש הגיע לכביש 1 כשהכביש עמוס, איבוד שליטה באזור כלל הכוחות מפונים למקום. pic.twitter.com/CPa4icQ3fN

— שלמה ⛈️ מזג אוויר (@MezgAvirIL) April 30, 2025

No injuries were reported, other than smoke inhalation, though the fires interrupted ceremonies marking Israel’s annual Yom Hazikaron, or Memorial Day, which commemorates fallen soldiers throughout the years.

Though the rehearsal of the special soldiers' march for the occasion was specially recorded and can be broadcast, this is still a terrible incident that had to happen. As the Jerusalem Post notes, terrorism is suspected:

Terrorism is suspected in the wave of massive fires that have triggered a national emergency across parts of Israel, according to an unnamed Israeli security source speaking to The Media Line. The fires erupted on Tuesday, as the country marked Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism and prepared to transition into celebrations for its 77th Independence Day.

The source confirmed that several arrests have been made in connection with the suspected arson attacks, but declined to provide further details due to the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

[...] “This is being treated as a national emergency,” the source said, pointing to evidence that suggests the fires were set deliberately and in a coordinated manner. The timing—on a day of national mourning followed immediately by celebrations of statehood—has raised concerns that the attacks were intended to provoke panic and undermine the national morale.

Hamas calls to set fires in Jerusalem, West Bank

Hamas posted a message encouraging Palestinians to "burn whatever you can of groves, forests, and settler homes," on Telegram on Wednesday.

"Youth of the West Bank, youth of Jerusalem, and those inside Israel, set their cars ablaze... Gaza awaits the revenge of the free," the terrorist organization wrote.

Earlier, the Jenin News Network Telegram channel called on Palestinians to "burn the groves near the settlements" in a post on Telegram on Wednesday.

As the wildfires continue to burn across central Israel, the channel posted a photo of a masked person setting fire to a field as a town burns in the background, with the text "Settlers' homes will be ashes under the feet of the revolutionaries" and the hashtag "Burn settlers' houses."

Well, if this is what Telegram allows to take place on their network, then I don't think I want to make use of their services. Anybody sane who's running a social media network should not allow jihadists to exploit their services. Who knows how much damage has also been caused in Europe as the result of the Telegram staff's incompetence? Anybody with common sense who realizes Telegram could be a bad influence should cancel their subscription immediately.

How Ben Shapiro defends Israel

Columnist Ben Shapiro was interviewed ahead of his visit to Israel on Independence Day (which, if transsexual singer Dana International is attending, I won't be watching, unfortunately), and makes a point that facts matter:

Shapiro's uncompromising advocacy for Israel has earned him many enemies worldwide. This week, when it was announced he had been chosen to light a torch at the Independence Day ceremony, it surprisingly became apparent that he has critics in Israel as well. A vocal minority from the left attacked Shapiro and those who selected him, attempting to portray him as "controversial" – a familiar tactic used whenever Israel decides to honor someone who fights relentlessly for the country without self-pity or selfish calculation, but doesn't belong to the "correct" left-wing circles.

Shapiro remains unfazed by attempts to smear him as "backwards" regarding homosexuality, abortion, and transgender issues. "I've seen many attempts to distort my actual positions from many on the Israeli left, particularly in the media," he says in an exclusive interview with "Israel Hayom." "It's not particularly surprising – their way of distortion is well-known. I have never said homosexuality is a mental illness, nor do I believe that. Here are my actual positions: I believe in the traditional definition of marriage, and that the state should offer benefits to such marriages because it's in the state's inherent interest to support father-mother-children nuclear families. I do not believe in the regulation of same-sex relationships. I am entirely pro-life because I believe unborn human beings deserve to live. I believe men cannot become women, that there are only two sexes (male and female), and that men with gender dysphoria remain men."

But more than anything, he doesn't understand what connection his positions on these and other issues, whether someone likes them or not, have to the underhanded attempt to disqualify his selection to light the Independence Day torch – and along with him, the vast majority of Israelis don't understand either: "After all, even those who disagree with me on these issues should celebrate and honor the establishment of the State of Israel, which represents the fulfillment of God's promise to the Jewish people and stands as a bulwark against enemies of the West. While I'm always happy to discuss my views and do so daily – for instance on my podcast, which is listened to by millions of people – what's far more important, particularly at this time in history, is recognizing that despite all our disagreements, we must not undermine the unity of celebrating Israel's Independence Day."

In this unifying message, he is right. Few know better than he how to distinguish between the essential and the trivial, between allies and enemies. It's no wonder that due to his willingness to defend Israel in every forum and at all times, he's often called "Israel's defender."

"That label is a great honor for me," Ben Shapiro (41) acknowledges. "I'm certain every decent person should defend Israel in its war against genocidal and monstrous enemies like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and their sponsor – Iran. Today, defending Israel simply means telling the truth about it – there are too many people willing to lie or hedge to avoid controversy. For me, that has meant using my platform to spread the truth about what's happening in Israel and the region, appearing in some of the world's largest media outlets to do the same, debating on behalf of Israel at Oxford and Cambridge, and so on. It has also meant launching a musical called 'We Will Rise' in Israel, with music and lyrics by my father, to demonstrate our love for Israelis during this critical time. And it has meant giving more charity, speaking more, writing more, arguing more."

You can read more at the article. I hope that, if he speaks with Dana International, Shapiro will ask that man in drag if he recognizes that what the Hamas did to the women they graphically raped murdered on October 7, 2023 is wrong even in the guise of transsexual surgeries. That said, it's a shame culture minister Miri Regev had to take a woke path and invite Dana to attend, because it won't change anti-Israelists' view of Zion, and it doesn't help Israel's moral image either. What helps is if actual women who support good causes are elevated to heroic statuses. That's what's important now, and even Shapiro, it can be said, is supporting that.

And I'm glad to see that, if anything, Shapiro isn't making the mistake of obscuring Islam's darkest parts this time, as he once did 2 years ago. That was entirely uncalled for.