More than 7,000 acres scorched in Gaza arson attacks, authorities say

Balloons with flammable material at kibbutz Gevim, near Sderot

Times of Israel staff write, “More than 7,000 acres of agricultural land in the Northern and Western Negev desert has been damaged by arson attacks emanating from the Gaza Strip.

Marking six months since Palestinians in Gaza began sending incendiary balloons and kites over the border toward southern Israel, Keren Kayemeth L’Yisrael-Jewish National Fund reported Wednesday that some 3,279 acres (12,270 dunams) of forests have been damaged by fires caused by the cross-border attacks. Another 4,000 acres of farmland also have been destroyed by the fires.”…

“The most damage has occurred in the Beeri and Kisufim forests in the Western Negev, and forests near the city of Sderot and Kibbutz Lahav in the northern Negev.

On Monday, KKL-JNF’s board of directors allocated NIS 100 million ($27.5 million) for special projects to help the Gaza border area communities.” (More…)