Over 7,000 residents in different communities have been evacuated, writes the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
The western wind can easily drive the fire towards the outskirts of and even into the city itself, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a video message about the fire threatening Jerusalem.
The fire is raging in a forest outside the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh and the fire is spreading quickly. Hundreds of people have left their cars on a major highway connecting Jerusalem with the metropolis of Tel Aviv.
High temperatures and strong winds have caused the fires to spread quickly, which has led to evacuations from at least five communities, the police announce in a statement.
Several major roads have been closed and the military has been deployed to assist the rescue services. Israel has also requested help from several countries.
Three firefighting planes will be sent from Italy and Croatia, according to a statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Romania is also contributing with planes, while countries such as France, Ukraine, and Ecuador are sending various types of aid.
