The blaze at the communal village of Nataf in Mateh Yehuda Regional Council, just twelve miles west of Jerusalem, in pre-1967 Israel, was most likely caused by a Molotov cocktail that was tossed from behind the fence of the Arab Katane village, just east of the “green line,” Jerusalem District Fire and Rescue spokesperson announced Wednesday.
The initial conclusions of fire investigators are that a Molotov cocktail was thrown into a grassy forest area and the strong and shifty winds helped the fire spread into a nearby canyon.
The fire spread quickly towards kibbutz Ma’ale HaHamisha and religious moshav Mevo Horon, but especially to Nataf. The fire raged through the local natural and planted forests to reach the outer homes of the village, trapping it from the east and from the west. The fire also gutted local ranch style restaurant Rama’s Kitchen (see images).
About 150 firefighters worked through the night Friday and into Saturday this week in Nataf, whose 400 residents were evacuated.
The Fire and Rescue announcement said following the investigation, a final report will be turned over to police.
The fire at Beit Meir in the same area continues.