Jerusalem celebrates snow for the first time in 8 years - Palestine
After an absence of about eight years, the white visitor returned again, spreading his bright robe over Jerusalem and the region, to spread joy and happiness in the hearts of adults and children alike, so the city's mountains, streets and roofs were covered with snow, in a scene that Jerusalemites have been waiting for since the last time they played with snow, And it was 2013.
As soon as the storm subsided, Jerusalemites began to descend into the streets and squares, to enjoy the beauty of the snow, snowballs and fun together, and the formation of the well-known snowman in such an atmosphere, especially in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Bab al-Amud area, as explained by the Palestinian agency "Ma'an".
Jerusalem opened its eyes to its holy sites, which are covered with snow, where the white color covered the Dome of the Rock, the Qibli Mosque and the grounds of the Holy Mosque, after a snowstorm that blew during the night. Before dawn fell, children were throwing snowballs at each other outside the gates of the Old City, while worshipers flocked to the holy sites.
Hundreds of pictures and videos spread on social media, which documented moment by moment of snowfall and its accumulation in various regions, while many preferred to stick to their homes, asking for warmth next to the heaters. Teams of volunteers spread in the towns, neighborhoods, and streets of Jerusalem, who opened secondary roads and helped the people.
The snow storm blew the night before last, prompting the authorities to stop public transport and close the main road leading to Jerusalem. But as the storm subsided, the municipality said it would resume services, even as residents got out and drove to enjoy the view.
Ramallah and Hebron
For the first time in years, snow covered the West Bank cities of Ramallah and Hebron, after a rare snowstorm. From the pieces of falling snow, families carved snowman figures in the nearly empty streets, with their children witnessing this natural phenomenon for the first time in their lives.
A few cars tried to move in the fog on the snow-covered roads in the streets of Bethlehem, which are usually full of people and cars. Snow covered the bell tower of the Church of the Nativity. Schools and offices closed across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, as strong waves slammed onto the nearly empty beaches.
Arabs snow
Several Arab countries were affected by a very cold air depression, centered in eastern Cyprus, and reached the northern regions in Saudi Arabia, resulting in heavy snowfall. The depression led to heavy rain and snow in some countries, including Jordan, which was exposed to a large amount of snow, forcing the government to announce the suspension of official working hours for ministries and government departments yesterday.
In Lebanon, snowstorms cut off electricity to most cities, as a severe storm gripped the country, as a result of this depression, which began last Tuesday.
The storm struck Syria, causing roads to be closed and university exams canceled in Damascus, at a time when snow covered towns in the north of the country. As for Saudi Arabia, it was affected by the very cold depression in the northern regions, as video clips spread on social media showed snow falling on the mountains in the city of Tabuk, which usually witnesses snowfall in the winter.
The hashtag “# Tabuk Snow” has spread on Twitter, where Saudis tweeted about the snowstorm that hit Tabuk, with pictures and videos of the snow that covered desert areas.
