© Mostafa Alkharouf/Getty ImagesIsraeli firefighters continue to battle wildfires that have been raging near Jerusalem for two days. Emergency services have described them as some of the "largest ever" in the country's history.The fires broke out on Wednesday along the main highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, spreading quickly due to the heat and strong winds.The key highway and several other roads in the area were shut down, withMore than 160 firefighting teams and 12 aircraft were deployed to contain the wildfires.On Wednesday evening,Firefighters worked through the night, unblocking the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and allowing residents in several settlements to return to their homes on Thursday. However, the fire service acknowledged in a statement that "at this stage we still have not gained control" of the conflagration.According to the local media,due to smoke inhalation and burns.according to the forestry organization Jewish National Fund.Netanyahu also announced thatin connection with the fires. However, police sources told the local media that only three detentions had actually been made and that the suspects had been trying to start fires not near Jerusalem but elsewhere.The wildfires have prompted the Israeli authorities to reduce the scale of Independence Day celebrations, marked on April 30 and May 1. The traditional torch-lighting ceremony in Jerusalem was canceled.Ganem told the news outlet Walla that he had long been pushing for the country to develop an advanced aerial firefighting capability, but that his calls had been ignored by officials.