Weighing science and Zionism in the aftermath of Haifa's forest fire

Replant or wait? Israel weighs options on scorched forest

The debate boils down to the very essence of trees in the Holy Land. The typical Israeli forested landscape is made up of planted, planned lines of pine trees. And for generations, the JNF forests have been an integral part of Israel's nation building.

Natural forests like the Carmel, on the other hand, with wildlife and diverse ecosystems, are rare.

Those who care for the two distinct types of forest have different goals, explained Omri Gal, a spokesman for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, which administers the Carmel area.

"The JNF forests are for the enjoyment and recreation of people. Our goal is to preserve nature," Gal said. "The public wants to help after something like this. They feel that by planting a tree where another was burned they are helping, but this is not always true."

I'd rather see a natural forest renew, to be honest, to see the hand of God in the renewal of an oecosystem. But that's just me.