Firefighters have brought a blaze under control around the northern city of Haifa, where about 80,000 people were ordered to evacuate.<\/span><\/p>\n But officials say several smaller fires are still being tackled in different locations.<\/span><\/p>\n The blazes have been fanned by hot, dry weather and high winds.<\/span><\/p>\n Several people have been treated for smoke inhalation but no serious injuries have been reported.<\/span><\/p>\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that if any of the fires were started deliberately they would be treated as an act of terrorism.<\/span><\/p>\n Education Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the right-wing Jewish Home party, hinted at Arab or Palestinian involvement, Tweeting: “Only those to whom the country does not belong are capable of burning it.”<\/span><\/p>\n Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah movement said Israeli officials were “exploiting the fire” to accuse Palestinians.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the fire around Haifa calming, fire officials warned it would be several days before they could fully extinguish what remains of the blaze.<\/span><\/p>\n Overnight hundreds of people were evacuated from the town of Beit Meir near Jerusalem after several homes caught fire.<\/span><\/p>\n Police blamed the fire there on arson and three suspects have been arrested, according to the Jerusalem Post.<\/span><\/p>\n Another town in the north, Horashim, has also been evacuated as a blaze approaches, Haaretz reported.<\/span><\/p>\n Palestinian firefighting crews were despatched from the West Bank to help efforts in Haifa.<\/span><\/p>\n The team’s head, Abdulatif Abu Amshah, said: “Firefighters, their aim is to stop fire. No need to look of religion or anything else.”<\/span><\/p>\n A US supertanker, capable of carrying 74 tonnes of water and fire retardant, is due to arrive in Israel on Friday to assist.<\/span><\/p>\n Several other countries – including Cyprus, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Greece – have also sent help and equipment, including aircraft, to help tackle the blazes.<\/span><\/p>\n The fires are the worst since 2010, when 44 people died in a fire on Mount Carmel, just south of Haifa.<\/span><\/p>\n Source:\u00a0http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-middle-east-38102469<\/span><\/p>\n