Poor water pressure and dry hydrants posed major obstacles to fighting the February fire that killed scores of people along the country’s Pacific Coast.
After Hamas softened its terms for a truce and exchanges of hostages for prisoners, the White House welcomed the shift but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel publicly disparaged it.
Many Israelis support the Senate majority leader’s call for early elections, but even Netanyahu’s rivals were reluctant to seize on the criticism while the country is focused on the war in Gaza.
The presidential candidate of the main opposition party, as well as its powerful founder, was released 10 days before the West African country is set to hold a national election.