Prime Minister Binyamin Netayahu on Friday thanked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan for sending airplanes to help battle the Carmel brush-fire which had already claimed 41 lives.
"I really appreciate Turkey's help, we will find a way to express our appreciation." The prime ministers comments came during a visit to the Carmel fire injured at Rambam hospital in Haifa.
The prime minister also praised Israeli rescue workers, the IDF, the Israel Prisons Service, and hospitals around the country.
Earlier on Friday, Netyanyahu thanked his other international counterparts for planes, firefighters, supplies and fire retardant chemicals sent to assist efforts to control the huge forest fire.
In a press conference held after an emergency cabinet meeting, Netanyahu mentioned Greek Prime Minister George Papandreaus, who he called a “real friend,” as well as Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, Russian Prime Minister Vladmir Putin, and most notably Erdogan. In what Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said was a German initiative, Turkey agreed to send two fire-fighting planes to Israel on Friday morning.
The international aid effort is being coordinated by Lieberman and the Foreign Ministry, Netanyahu said, adding that the option of bringing in more supplies from Canada and the US was being considered. He said that the cabinet had a national plan which would be implemented in the coming days.
Before the cabinet meeting, Lieberman told Israel Radio that the country was dealing with a disaster like we have never known before." He charged that though a shortage of fire-fighting planes was common knowledge, "nothing here ever happens until disaster strikes."
The foreign minister also referred to international aid which was being flown in to help Israeli efforts controlling the fire. Four Greek aircraft, four from France, three from Britain, two from Spain, two from Russia, two from Turkey, two from Cypress, two from Bulgaria, one from Croatia and one from Azerbaijan were expected to arrive by noon, Lieberman said.
He said that the Germans had "made the initiative" to request the fire-fighting planes from Turkey, and that El Al was organizing for the transfer of a special fire-fighting liquid from France.
Also speaking before the cabinet meeting, Interior Minister Eli Yishai called for the establishment of a committee to probe the handling of the fire. "It is a tragedy, and it's crucial that we look into all surrounding factors," Yishai said.
Fight foreign planes, three helicopters, three firetrucks, and over 150 foreign firefighters have arrived in Israel so far. More are expected soon.

Obama: That's what friends do for each other

US President Barack Obama on Thursday offered his condolences to families of the victims of the uncontrolled fire.
"As rescuers and firefighters continue in their work, the United States is acting to help our Israeli friends respond to the disaster," Obama said at a reception celebrating the second night of Hanukka. "A short while ago, our ambassador in Tel Aviv, Jim Cunningham, issued a disaster declaration, which has launched an effort across the US government to identify the firefighting assistance we have available and provide it to Israel as quickly as possible. Of course, that's what friends do for each other."
Obama continued, "Our thoughts and prayers are with everybody in Israel who is affected by this tragedy and the family and loved ones of those in harm’s way."
A 747 loaded with the fire retardant chemical needed to stop the raging Carmel forest fires left the United States for Israel Thursday night, thanks to New York City Mayor Bloomberg, Israeli Acting Consul General Ido Aharoni, members of the FDNY and Tom Harbour, the Director of Fire and Aviation Management for the US Forestry Service.
Bloomberg called Israel’s Acting Consul General in New York Ido Aharoni Thursday afternoon to convey New York City's strong support for Israel Thursday afternoon, Bloomberg's spokesperson Stu Loeser said.
Bloomberg asked if New York could help Israel with its fires. Bloomberg mentioned in the call that FDNY Commissioner Sal Cassano had had a meeting scheduled for Friday with Israel's Deputy Minister of Defense, Matan Vilnai and two aides. Vilnai is in charge of Homeland Defense including natural disasters and terrorist/hostile military events against the civilian population. However, the Friday meeting had been cancelled due to Vilnai's return to Israel.
Aharoni thanked Bloomberg and requested Fire Troll 931, a flame retardant Israel needs to combat the fires. At Bloomberg's request, Deputy Fire Commissioner Francis X. Gribbon immediately called the Acting Counsel General back, ascertained that the fire retardant Israel needs is not one that the FDNY uses in New York, and had the FDNY reach out to the United States Forestry Service, which does use Fire Troll 931 to fight forest fires.
After a conference call between Harbour and Aharoni late Thursday afternoon, Harbour told FDNY Deputy Commissioner Gribbon that the plane loaded with Fire Troll 931 will leave for Israel tonight.
Egypt has also offered to assist in firefighting efforts by supplying fire extinguishing chemicals, according to the IDF Spokesperson.