HAIFA (AP) – European aircraft dumped tons of water over flames shooting from tall trees Friday in northern Israel as firefighters struggled for a second day to contain the worst forest fire, which has killed 41 people and displaced thousands.

Authorities raised the possibility of arson, saying several small fires that broke out in the same general area but were quickly contained appeared to have been deliberately set.
A strong wind fanned flames through natural forests to the outskirts of Israel's third-largest city, Haifa. One of the main Israel's highways was closed to traffic as adjacent trees were left smoldering and smoke billowed toward the Mediterranean coastline, with bits of ash flying through the air and large red flames closing in on a hotel and a spa south of the city.
The shortfall prompted an unprecedented wave of international assistance.
Some 100 firefighters from Bulgaria arrived as well as fire extinguishing planes and crews from Greece and Britain, Israeli officials said. More aid was on its way from the United States, Russia, Egypt, Cyprus, Jordan, Spain, Azerbaijan, Romania and Turkey -- which put aside tensions over Israel's attack on a Turkish Gaza-bound flotilla in May to lend a hand.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Israel Radio that he was hopeful the fire could be suppressed by Saturday night.
The Israeli Cabinet convened an emergency meeting to discuss the fire. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked countries around the world for their help before departing north to visit the wounded in hospitals and inspect firsthand the efforts to put out the fire.
He singled out Turkey as the two countries put aside tensions over a deadly May 31 Israeli raid against a Turkish flotilla trying to break Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
“We are amid a disaster of international proportions,” he said. “We have to admit that our firefighting services cannot handle a forest fire backed by such a strong wind. We don't have the means for it.”
The scorched woodland accounted for only 7 square miles (18 square kilometers) of land. But because only 7 percent of Israel's land is forested, this worst forest fire in Israel's history was felt here as a deep national loss.
The disaster exposed critical shortfalls in emergency services. With Israel's resources focused primarily on its military and police forces, firefighters have been undermanned and underfunded for years.
Levy said the country only has 1,400 firefighters, far below the worldwide average. The force also complains of having old and faulty equipment.
The sense of helplessness sparked outrage among Israelis.
Photo: A firefighting plane sprays fire extinguishing material over the blazes in Yemin Orde, northern Israel, Friday, Dec. 3, 2010. (AP photo)
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