While Israeli tourist Rotem Singer, 23, awaits trial over charges of negligently starting a massive forest fire in Chile, Chilean officials demanded Monday that Israel be compelled to pay damages if he is convicted. Firefighters battled three huge wildfires Monday that have burned about 90 square miles (23,000 hectares) of forest, destroyed more than 100 homes and have driven away thousands of tourists while causing millions of dollars in losses. The fire claimed its first victim on Monday: an elderly man who refused warnings to leave his home. Singer has denied the charges of having sparked the Torres del Paine fire, but according to prosecutor Ivan Vidal, Singer's traveling companions said he set fire to used toilet paper, and then failed to put the fire out completely. If convicted, Singer faces up to two months in jail. "As of right now, the issue of culpability isn't clear," officials at the Israeli Embassy in Chile said Monday. "Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, Israel will always be prepared to share its know-how and experience in forest rehabilitation once the fire is put out." The embassy issued the statement after Chilean Senator Alejandro Navarro addressed the Senate on Monday, writing in a letter that "when a citizen commits a crime in a foreign country, his country, at least from a moral standpoint, must compensate that country for the losses incurred." He cited as an example the funds paid to Chile by the Czech government after a Czech national started a fire in Chile in 2005. "Israel's government must follow in the dignified footsteps of the Czech Republic, which paid 140,000 euros in compensation and even sent forestry experts to the park that was burned. I expect no less of Israel's government." In 2005, a Czech tourist using an illegal gas stove started a massive fire in the same Chilean forest, and after he was permitted to leave the country, the Czech government volunteered to pay for the damage. On Tuesday, Israel's Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing solidarity with Chile "in its sorrow for the damage caused to the rare natural treasure that is the National Park Torres del Paine." "Israel also experienced a similar disaster last year in our Carmel forest, and that painful memory enhances our sense of common destiny. The deep friendship the Israeli people feel toward Chile is as strong as ever, and we would therefore wish to send a mission of experts in forestry, to provide their colleagues with assistance that might be required," the statement said. In addition, the Foreign Ministry offered to donate tree seedlings to aid rehabilitation efforts.
Israel must pay for fire damage, says Chilean senator
Israeli tourist awaits trial for negligently starting forest fire in Chile • Israel offers to send experts and donate seedlings • Chilean Senator Alejandro Navarro: When a citizen commits a crime in another country, his country must pay the damages.
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