"From our point of view, above all saving lives is what leads us, and so we decided to come. Our motivation is very high, and we're happy to give help and human assistance."
--Suhail Abed, a firefighter from Qalqilya, Palestine, who helped Israeli firefighters put out flames in Haifa and outside Jerusalem.**

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You Must Be Kidding: 
"Though the initial concern was that the two were looking to commit arson out of nationalistic motives, after they were arrested, they were found to be known to the police to be part of a band of thieves. As such, the police began investigating whether the forest fire was caused due to security forces using equipment to light the way during the chase," Ynet reported.
--Israeli security forces may have sparked one of the fires in Israel due to negligence and their zealousness in suspecting Arabs.**

"The fire does not distinguish between Jews and Arabs. There were fires in (the Arab town of) Umm al-Fahm and in other places. Unfortunately, there are those who decided to take advantage of this terrible situation to incite and lash out at an entire population. Those who love our motherland should focus now on putting out the fires and helping the victims rather than inflaming hatred. Now let's save what can be saved. Afterwards, if it turns out a despicable Jew or Arab did this act, he should be condemned and severely punished."
--Joint List Chairman, MK Ayman Odeh, himself an Arab resident of Haifa said Thursday as 60,000 residents were evacuated from the city.**

“The Jews’ comfortable situation in America raises doubts as to whether it was worthwhile to gamble on the establishment of a Jewish state… In order to remove these malignant doubts, it would be good to have some anti-Semitism in America. Not serious anti-Semitism, not pogroms, not persecutions that will empty America from its Jews, as we need them there, but just a taste of this pungent stuff, so that we can restore our faith in Zionism.”
--Yedioth’s columnist and Channel 10 journalist, Yaron London, explains why white supremacy in the US suits the interests of Israel’s right-wing government.*

--In a fascinating Op-Ed that gives great information about the High Court's rulings' connections to the beginning of the settler movement, Yedioth's top political commentator Nahum Barnea gives a radical suggestion to the High Court justices on dealing with settlement related petitions.

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"I can’t accept the claim that the oppression of another people, the denial of basic human rights, and racism and hate are necessary for the existence of State of Israel."
--Tamar Alon said this week when she refused to be drafted.** 

Exchange of the day: