Greek assistance dispatched to Israel

(ANA-MPA) -- Israel on Friday thanked Greece for assistance in tackling a massive wildfire in the north of the country, which has claimed at least 40 lives and caused extensive destruction to the natural environment.

The Israeli embassy in Athens, in an announcement on Friday, thanked the Greek government, prime minister George Papandreou and responsible ministers.

Greece dispatched five fire-fighting aircraft to Israel to join efforts to contain and extinguish the blaze, after a telephone call between Papandreou and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

Israeli ambassador in Athens Arye Mekel said the direct contact between the two prime ministers and speedy decision to send help to Israel is in line with new, and very positive relations between Greece and Israel. (ANA-MPA)

The envoy also thanked the Greek people who contacted the Israeli embassy to offer support and express their condolences.

"The immediate communication between our two Prime Ministers and the swift decision to send assistance to Israel is befitting of the new very positive relations between Greece and Israel. The professionalism and experience of Greek personnel in combating forest fires is well-known and highly appreciated in Israel. I also want to thank all those Greek citizens who contacted our embassy to offer their sympathy and condolences to us. It is very important to have the help of our friends and neighbors during times of need," Mekel said in a statement.