Israeli PM calls for end to foreign firefighting aircraft
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called on the air force to cancel further requests for firefighting aircraft from other countries, a move that would indicate clear success in battling the flames ravaging Mt. Carmel near Haifa.
There are currently over 30 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft from nearly as many countries taking turns dousing the fires, which erupted Thursday morning.
Sortie after sortie of planes and helicopters are dropping water scooped from the nearby Mediterranean Sea, and dampened red flame-retardant powder over the blazes.
Netanyahu will work to bring and or lease firefighting aircraft, similar to those currently working to douse the flames, Eyal Gabai, director general of the Prime Minister's Office told Channel 10 television moments ago.
Israel has no such craft of its own, which prompted the call for international assistance in coping what is being referred to here as "Israel's Katrina," in size, scope and damage, in reference to the hurricane disaster that struck the U.S. gulf coast in 2005.
"It must be understood that this is an entirely different kind of war. This is not dealing with regular fires; therefore, we must utilize various measures here which are different from those that are normally used," Netanyahu told ministers at the weekly cabinet session, in a statement released by his office.
"Air Force Maj.-Gen. Ido Nehushtan updated ministers on the use of the international aerial force, which has arrived from ten different countries. Thirty-five planes are in operation today, including 24 from abroad - 3 large, 17 intermediate, 1 small, 11 sprayers and 3 helicopters. As of today, these aircraft have carried out 409 flights. The American 'Supertanker,' which can carry approximately 80,000 liters of water, has now gone into operation," the statement read.
Meanwhile, a Haifa court agreed to a police request to extend by 10 days the detention of two youths, aged 14 and 16, arrested for their possible part in causing the blaze, Channel 10 said.
The youths, residents of the village of Usfiya who were arrested on Thursday, told investigators they were innocent.
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