Council leader Donna Jones sent her condolences to the Mayor of Haifa, Yonah Yahav, after the Israeli city was rocked by a huge blaze, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.
Wildfire roared through parts of Israel’s third-largest city - which is twinned with Portsmouth.
In a letter of response to Cllr Jones, Mr Yahav said: ‘I am heartily thankful and deeply moved by your kind and supportive words.’