In the week since last That's My World Tuesday Israel has been through trying times.
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We are mourning the loss of 42 men and women in the service of their country; all burned because a bus was engulfed just after the forest fire started on Thursday.
Some 250 housing units burned either totally or partially.
50,000 dunams (12,500 acres) of the Mt. Carmel forest, 5 million trees, were on fire.
The good part is that many nations came to Israel's aid.
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In the photo, in orange and blue, are just some of the fire fighting aircraft crews that came from ten countries.
Israeli pilots accompanied them in every sortie over the flames.
In 82 hours the fire was stopped.
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Yesterday and today 4 Israel Air Force bases held ceremonies for the departure of the international teams. IAF medals were presented to 192 foreign crewmen, and all the delegations received a certificate of gratitude from the commander of the IAF.
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But before leaving, they were taken around the country to visit the holy places.
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The water-dropping planes that Turkey graciously sent us flew up to Lebanon to battle the fires that are burning the majestic cedars.
The other good news is that for the first time in 8 months RAIN started falling all over Israel last night! Just in time to cool down the smouldering ground in the Carmel range..
Above you see the welcome clouds over Jerusalem at 4:18 pm today, as seen from my village.
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The Boston Globe has incredible images of our fire online today, including the airplanes.
WARNING: On Photo 6 they give you a choice whether to open it; please PLEASE skip that difficult one.
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Thank God it is over.
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Oh my god. I clicked through. I should have listened. Dear god...
ReplyDeleteRobin, I'm sorry. I should have made the warning more emphatic.
ReplyDeleteReaders, please, do not open Photo 6 on that link! Graphic content.
Am pleased to see fire over now. Terrible thing when out of control. Pleased to see you got some international help.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning, great pictures from the Boston Globe.
So good to hear that it`s over. And I`m glad that many nations came to help Israel. Great shots:-)
ReplyDeletePs: You can have some of the cold from here, bring it over to you:-)
sorry to hear about all the lives lost.
ReplyDeleteIt just makes you realize how much we live in our own bubble. Most people don't really pay attention to the global news but then to see it on a blog that you read, it really hits home.
ReplyDeleteGlad you posted the story but sad that you had the story to tell in the first place.
The loss of life is tragic. In the fire that claimed our house and many others, 76 lives were lost.
ReplyDeletePossessions can be regained, lives can not.
Amazing speed with which the fires were extinguished and the best part was the international contingents working together for a common good.
Thanks be to God for the rain and the end of the terrible fires!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious (and you don't have to answer): why are some of the faces blurred when others aren't?
ReplyDeleteBlessed rain!
You linked an impressive boy of images, I am glad everything is over now.
ReplyDeleteThe planes dipping in the sea reminded me of a huge fire that destroied our 'macchia' along the coast. It raged for days and we used to watch the planes and the copters catching water that way.
Dina: Thank you for keeping us posted. You are one of my main news sources coming out of Israel. Perhaps I subconsciously featured the firemen on Greensboro Daily Photo knowing that Israel was in such dire need of help extinguishing the fires!
ReplyDeleteNow, here is the little Hanukkah post that I pulled together, thinking of you and the people involved with the fire!
http://www.greensborodailyphoto.com/2010/12/hanukkah-2010.html
What a relief to read that the fire is under control and essentially over. «Louis» has been quite concerned about Israel in this difficult moment.
ReplyDeleteI read/viewed info that said that our jumbo California water dropper. This is good news... so if I'm understanding you correctly, fires are burning the cedars of Lebanon?
ReplyDelete...and you know I'll open that page
ReplyDeleteGreat you received so much help, including the rain, and glad it's over, Dina.
ReplyDeleteFriends, thank you for adding your own stories and thanks for sticking with us.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the questions--
Petrea, I'm not sure why some faces were blotted out and some not. It is common when air force pilots are interviewed on TV not to show their face.
PA, I hope you don't have nightmares after seeing the victims.
Yes, I thought of you and your much earlier question about cedars when I saw that news item. Apparently Lebanon still has forests of cedar trees, and they were on fire.
Fire is a horrible thing. I watched your fire on our TV. We have two small fires in the weekend, and one today.
ReplyDeleteWe did follow the progress of the fires, even here in Hawaii. We were so glad to hear of all the countries who came to your aid. It gives you hope that peace is a possibility. I'm so sorry for the lives lost and all the trees as well. Thank goodness you got some rain!
ReplyDelete