Dhaka, May 1 -- Israel has declared a national emergency and deployed military forces to combat a massive wildfire spreading near Jerusalem. The blaze has forced the closure of the main highway linking the capital to Tel Aviv, the country's economic and tech hub.

Authorities have canceled all Independence Day events, scheduled for Thursday, to ensure emergency services remain fully available. Defense Minister Israel Katz described the fire, which is concentrated in villages southwest of Jerusalem, as a "national emergency." A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed a general mobilization was underway.

Carolina wildfires continue to rage

Eyal Caspi, head of the Israel National Fire and Rescue Authority, told reporte...