Netanyahu said that Israel’s squadron of 14 firefighting aircraft is not enough, and that he turned to other countries for assistance. By midnight, he said, an additional 10 planes will have arrived from Russia, Greece, Italy, Cyprus and Turkey.The two planes being sent from Russia are of the massive Beriev Be-200 type, an aircraft that can carry up to 12,000 liters of water, scooped out of the sea in some 14 seconds. The Russians sent 19 crew members along with the two planes, with a third plane expected on Friday.Greece sent three planes and a crew of 32; Croatia sent two planes and a crew of 14; Turkey sent two planes and an eight-member crew; Italy sent two planes and a crew of 13; and Cyprus sent its sole fire-fighting plane, and a crew of seven.France and Ukraine both offered two planes each, which are expected to arrive Friday morning. Netanyahu said that he issued directives requesting the US to send the world’s largest firefighting aircraft, the 747 Supertanker, the only such plane with the capability of operating at night.He said that while the aircraft would only be used in extreme situations, it would be better to have more capability than not enough. The plane is expected to arrive Friday evening. The Supertanker, which reportedly costs $1.5 million to rent, was brought here in 2010 to help battle the Mount Carmel forest fire. It can carry up to 20,000 gallons of firefighting liquids, including water, foaming agents and fire retardants.Netanyahu spoke on Thursday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and thanked him for positively and quickly responding to Israel’s request to help in the efforts. The phone conversation was the seventh between the two leaders since the beginning of the year.Turkey sent a large fire-fighting aircraft. After the Turkish offer of assistance was made, Netanyahu issued a statement saying he appreciated the move.Ankara only recently resumed full diplomatic ties with Jerusalem after six years of downgraded relations following the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident.The Turkish Embassy in Tel Aviv said on Twitter Thursday evening that another two Turkish amphibious aircraft were on the way.Turkey sent two planes to Israel in December 2010 to fight the Carmel Forest fire, at the height of the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. And in 2011, Israel dispatched mobile homes to Turkey, following a massive earthquake there.(Image from a police helicopter in the Modiin area. Photo: Police Foreign Press Office)תמונות ראשונות מהשריפה במודיעין pic.twitter.com/8sTx03Ycnx
— Eran Sidis (@EranSidis) November 24, 2016