Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, this evening, visited the Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Service forward command center, near the wildfire in the Jerusalem hills.
 
Together with Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, Prime Minister Bennett received updates in the field about the efforts to bring the fire under control, by Israel Police Inspector General Koby Shabtai and Fire and Rescue Service Commissioner Dedi Simchi.
 
The Prime Minister thanked the firefighters and police officers for their expedited work in saving human lives.
 
Following are Prime Minister Bennett's remarks to the media:
 
"At this time, it seems that the efforts to bring the fire under control are moving in a positive direction but it must be said that it is not over until it is over.
 
Fires and winds have a capricious dynamic and what now seems okay, we could, in another three hours, Heaven forbid, wake up to a very strong line. Therefore, we will make a continuous effort throughout the night.
 
I want to commend the firefighters, the Fire and Rescue Service, the Israel Police, the IDF forces and all of the rescue forces, which have worked in a very synchronized manner, under the leadership of the Public Security Minister, and which very quickly and efficiently rescued hundreds of residents from their homes, something that really saved lives.