Our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives have been affected by the fires now raging across Israel and in the West Bank.

We are heartened by the assistance in fighting the fires that has come not only from the United States and Europe, but from Egypt, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority as well.

As has become abundantly clear in the way these fires have spread over the past two days, fire knows no boundaries between cities and villages, North and South, Israel and the West Bank.  It is our profound hope that efforts to fight this threat together will prevail over forces that aim to divide.