Nearly three dozen people, most from the Palestinian territories, have been arrested on suspicion of arson since the outbreak of wildfires across the country, Israeli radio said Sunday.
Israeli security forces have taken 35 people into custody since the wildfires began on Tuesday.
Netanyahu called Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas on Saturday evening to express his thanks for the Palestinians sending 8 vehicles and 40 fire personnel to Israel, the prime minister's office said.
"Netanyahu also appreciates the fact that Jews and Arabs have taken victims of the fire into their homes," it said.
Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan on Saturday night called for the destruction of the homes of those found guilty of starting the fires, though according to the Times of Israel, he said the blazes were not an "arson intifada."
Some hardline ministers have accused Arab nationalists of being behind the arson and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed "terror." Members of the Palestinian minority inside Israel have pushed back, saying their villages were also badly hit.
Dry and windy weather conditions contributed to the rapid spread of the blazes. On Sunday, the flames were mostly under control.
Hundreds of homes have been damaged in Israel, including in both Jewish and Arab areas. In the northern city of Haifa, more than 1,800 apartments have been damaged, with more than 500 no longer habitable, Israeli radio said Sunday.
More than 120 people have been hurt by the wildfires since Tuesday, Israeli emergency services said.
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