Fire investigators from the Forestation Department of the Jewish National Fund assessed that the fire on Friday in the Jerusalem Corridor broke out as the result of arson and not from incinerating trash, as was previously believed. The center of the fire was found near the Abu-Ghosh Regional Council building. The evidence will be conveyed to the police.
Millions of shekels in damage was caused to Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim as a result of the fire. According to preliminary assessments by the Agricultural Insurance Company, which insures the kibbutz, not all the damage will be covered by insurance.
The kibbutz's structures are covered to a ceiling of $3 million, and sources in the Agricultural Insurance Company hope the damage does not exceed the ceiling. About 15 residential homes were seriously damaged as were the personal belongings of kibbutz members. There was also damage to barns and hen-houses.
The Jewish National Fund, which owns the forests, was also damaged, and is apparently not covered by any insurance company. The fund covers fire damage from independent sources and government assistance.
If it becomes clear that the fire was caused by arson for nationalist reasons, the Jewish National Fund and Kibbutz Kiryat Anavim will be able to demand compensation from the Compensation Fund for Terror Attack Damages at the Ministry of Finance.