Israel asks allies for help as wildfires rage near Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has appealed to its international allies for help in fighting wildfires raging outside of Jerusalem. Israeli firefighters were working for a second straight day to bring the blaze under control. Foreign Minister Yair Lapid says he spoke to his Greek counterpart on Monday and that Greece has agreed to offer assistance. He says Israel has also reached out to Cyprus, France and Italy. Officials say the blaze has torched 17 square kilometers, or 6.5 square miles, of land, and hundreds of homes have been evacuated in communities just west of Jerusalem.