Australia Weather News

Dangerous wildfires have erupted in central Israel, forcing authorities to close major highways and prompting the Israeli Government to ask for international firefighting help.

Dry and windy conditions fanned the flames, threatening communities about 25 kilometres west of Jerusalem and blanketing much of central Israel in smoke.

Video shared on social media showed the fire raging along the edges of Highway 1, which connects Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, leaving motorists little choice but to abandon their cars and run for their lives.

Some could be seen hitching a ride on the back of tow trucks travelling through the area.

Locals had been evacuated a number of communities in the Jerusalem Hills, including the towns of Neve Shalom, Mevo Horon and Eshtaol.

The Israeli government said it had asked Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy and Bulgaria for help in battling the fires, and said assistance was expected to begin arriving on Thursday local time.

Israeli media reported two pregnant women and two infants were among 13 people rushed to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation and burns.

The chief of the Israel Defense Forces said search and rescue teams had joined Israeli police and firefighters in the area, helping to battle the fires and the evacuate residents.

Military aircraft were also joining the firefighting efforts.

"I express my full support for the firefighters and rescue teams standing guard over our country and working alongside the IDF, local authorities, and all relevant agencies in a broad effort to contain the severe and devastating fires in the Jerusalem area, and ensure the safety of local residents," Israeli President Isaac Herzog posted on social media platform X.

"I thank the countries stepping up to assist Israel at this critical time and send strength to those evacuated from their homes."

Israeli media was reporting the nation's domestic spy agency, Shin Bet was involved in investigating the cause of the fires, with fears arsonists may have been involved.

Police revealed they had arrested a man in his 50's from a Palestinian neighbourhood in East Jerusalem on suspicion of trying to start another fire in an open field south of the city.

The fires prompted the cancellation of many Memorial Day services, commemorating fallen IDF soldiers and civilians killed in attacks in Israel.

A number of Israeli Independence Day events, scheduled for Thursday, have also been cancelled.