Israel - In Photos: Rare Snowstorm Paralyzes Jerusalem Area, Northern Israel -- VosIzNeias.com

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. Photo by Nati Shohat/FLASH90

Israel - The worst snowstorm in 20 years shut public transport, roads and schools in Jerusalem on Thursday and along the northern Israeli region bordering on Lebanon.

Elisha Peleg, an official in charge of emergencies with Israel’s municipality for Jerusalem, urged the city’s residents to remain at home and stay off the streets, telling Israel Army Radio the area had overnight seen its greatest snowfall since 1992.

He said 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) of snow had piled up in the city centre and more than that in outlying areas. “The downtown area is bathed in white,” Peleg said.

“The elders of Jerusalem don’t remember such a snowstorm in years,” Peleg also said.

Public transport had ground to a halt, and many vehicles that ventured onto roads were stuck, he added, urging citizens to remain at home.

“Make it a family day. In the afternoon, the temperatures are supposed to rise and you will be able to head out for some shopping,” Peleg added.

Israel Radio said a highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was blocked, and that much of the northern Galilee region was paralysed by snow, with 30 cm (12 inches) said to have accumulated in the city of Safed.

Eitan El Hadez, an Israeli from the coastal town of Netanya north of Tel Aviv, poses as an active skier on the plaza before the Western Wall (behind), Judaism’s holiest site, in Jerusalem’s Old City, 10 January 2013. The storm left about 10-15 cm of wet snow on the city. Eitan, who does not know how to ski at all, travelled four hours on public bus in the storm to get to Jerusalem in order to take pictures of himself in a sportsman’s pose. (Credit: EPA)
 

Tourists visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, during a snow storm in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel, 10 January 2013. The storm left about 15 centimeters of wet snow on the city. (Credit: EPA)

An Israeli holds his arms up as he sings prayers after praying at the Western Wall (behind), Judaism’s holiest site, during a snow storm in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel, 10 January 2013. The storm left about 15 centimeters of wet snow on the city. (Credit: EPA)

Ultra Orthodox Jews walk along the Old City walls during a snow storm in Jerusalem, 10 January 2013. The mid-East region has been gripped by a cold wave accompanied by heavy snowfalls since a few days. (Credit: EPA)

An Ultra Orthodox Jew wades through the snow next to the Old City walls in Jerusalem, during a snow storm in the city, on 10 January 2013. The mid-East region has been gripped by a cold wave accompanied by heavy snowfalls since a few days. (Credit: EPA)

Ultra Orthodox Jews walk along the Old City walls during a snow storm in Jerusalem, 10 January 2013. The mid-East region has been gripped by a cold wave accompanied by heavy snowfalls since a few days. (Credit: EPA)

View of the snow-covered Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Jerusalem Light Train on a snowy day on Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Jerusalem Light Train on a snowy day on Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow-covered Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow-covered Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow-covered Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis seen on a snowy winter evening at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis seen on a snowy winter evening at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

General view of the Old City Wall under heavy snow in Jerusalem on January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

General view of the Old City Wall under heavy snow in Jerusalem on January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

View of the snow covered streets on a winter evening in Jerusalem. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis seen playing in the snow on Ben Yehuda on a winter day in Jerusalem. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

The Jerusalem Light Train seen driving on Jaffo Street in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen walking through the alleys of Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the the Hurva sunagogue, otherwise known as Tiferet Yisrael, at the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

View of the distinctive golden Dome of the Rock, ( or the Temple mount) from the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

The Dome of the Rock is seen in the background of where an ultra orthodox Jewism man seen walking on rooftops in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

View of the distinctive golden Dome of the Rock, ( or the Temple mount) and the Western wall from the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen near a snowman in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen posing for a photograph near a snowman in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Ultra orthodox Jewish men seen building an igloo at Safra square in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Israelis play in the snow in the Saker Park in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis play in the snow in the Saker Park in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the Tower of David and the Old City walls in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Ultra orthodox Jewish men seen playing near the Old City walls in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man wears a prayer shawl as he prays at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen walking with a Torah scroll as they pray at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the Tower of David and the Old City walls in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man seen walking on the snow-covered Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man seen walking on the snow-covered Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israeli president Shimon Peres seen with a snowman in the garden of Peres’ residence, on a snowy winter day in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Israeli man wears his prayer shawl as he walks through the snow in Gush Etzion, near Jerusalem, January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Israelis play in the snow in Gush Etzion, near Jerusalem, January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the Montefiore windmill in the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow covered streets in the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of Jerusalem’s Old City seen from the Montefiore neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View seen from the Montefiore neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Snow-covered roads in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis play in the snow in the Independence Park in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israel - In Photos: Rare Snowstorm Paralyzes Jerusalem Area, Northern Israel -- VosIzNeias.com