JERUSALEM, April 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Israeli police on Wednesday closed the 
main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuated residents along the route as 
brushfires broke out again in an area ravaged by blazes a week ago.

Communities located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Jerusalem were 
evacuated, Israeli media reported, airing images of firefighting teams 
battling fierce flames.

Due to the weather conditions, the Israeli minister responsible for arranging 
national ceremonies, Miri Regev, announced that the main Independence Day 
event planned for Wednesday evening in Jerualem was cancelled.

High temperatures and strong winds have allowed the fires in wooded areas to 
spread quickly, prompting evacuations from at least five communities, the 
police said in a statement.

Emergency services provider Magen David Adom said in a statement that "at 
this stage, there are no reported casualties."

"Ambulance teams, intensive care units and immediate response vehicles are 
providing medical support for firefighting operations," it added.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees Israel's fire 
department, said in a statement that he was heading to the affected area, 
which often sees wildfires at this time of year.

When fires broke out in the same area last week, Prime Minister Benjamin 
Netanyahu had called for increased measures to douse the flames and said they 
must be stopped before reaching Jerusalem, which was eventually the case.