Netanyahu praises rescue workers

A thick blanket of snow, between 10-15 centimeters according to city officials, covered much of Jerusalem and the center of Israel on Thursday morning, causing schools, businesses and most government offices to be closed. Police closed roads throughout the country, including Highway 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, as reports from around the Middle East included at least 17 fatalities and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage. ICEJ world headquarters was also closed, except for a few intrepid workers who braved the harsh winter weather to file this report.

Schools were closed in the Palestinian Authority areas as well, along with most schools in Jordan and even as far south as Cairo.

Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee water level stands at 211.27 meters below sea level, just 2.4 meters from being filled to capacity.

Meteorologist have reported as much as 300 mm of precipitation has fallen in parts of the north and center of Israel in the last five days. As much as 50 mm has fallen in the southern part of the country.

“The systems are working well,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday. “I have instructed Public Security Ministry Director-General Rotem Peleg to consider compensation for those who have been hurt as a result of the weather.”

“One month after Operation Pillar of Defense, the rescue forces are again proving that the Israeli home front can rely on them,” Netanyahu added. “In the stormy weather, their sole concern is to help Israeli citizens, and they have been very successful.”