The Times of Israel reports: Amid signs that the wave of wildfires that have blighted Israel since Tuesday was being brought under control, Israeli security officials on Saturday night gave preliminary indications that weather was the prime cause of the initial blazes but that arsonists increasingly jumped on the bandwagon increasingly from Wednesday and into the weekend.
Israeli security forces have arrested more than 30 people suspected of either arson or encouraging others to commit arson since Tuesday, as the dozens of wildfires have swept through the country, destroying hundreds of homes and businesses and forcing tens of thousands to flee. At least 28 were still in custody on Saturday night, of whom more than 15 were Palestinians.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said most of those who remain in custody are West Bank Palestinians, with “a small minority” of Israeli Arabs.
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