Rare snow shuts down Jerusalem

JERUSALEM An incredible and a rare site in the Holy Land: The biggest snowstorm in decades covered Jerusalem with a blanket of white Thursday, paralyzing the city, but thrilling residents.

20 Photos

Winter storm batters Mideast

Looking out at the hills around the ancient city is more like looking at Colorado or Switzerland than the arid Middle East. Cars, pine trees and palm trees are all covered with snow.

The city was completely shut down, schools closed, businesses closed. Snow is so rare in Jerusalem that it essentially brings an unscheduled national holiday.

"First of all in Jerusalem snow is really rare so it's a really special occasion, and another bright side is that school was cancelled," one young woman told CBS News, as she enjoyed the day off.

In a country beset by conflict for decades, Israeli newscasters were also elated -- that Israel could be like a "normal" country and talk about the weather.

On Thursday, anyway, Jerusalem is white, it's peaceful and it's beautiful.

Robert Berger is the CBS Radio News correspondent in Jerusalem.

[TillMidnight]

Finally a beautiful story in such a troubled city.
Sha'alu Shalom Yerushalayim - Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

[izzyis1]

Where did noparty ever get the idea that Jewish women can not pray at the western wall ?? I saw women of all shades, shapes and persuasions praying, laughing, taking pictures and totally comfortable at the free access to the wall. This is not the same as when the Arabs controlled the wall. This happens on top where the Muslims are in control.

[lloydbest1]

One nothing snowfall in a city not used to it does not make an ice age......
Any more than the heat wave now in Australia is a symptom of Global Warming gone mad.

'tis pretty, though.

[margroks]

No, that is just people who do not understand the intricacies of global weather change. First it warms, then the Atlantic heat churning stops due to warmer Artic temps and melting of ice up there then sea levels rise and we lose costal cities after which we slide into another ice age. Climate change is pretty clearly here. It's not invention but reality.

[gestapoid]

Thank you to the author for acknowledging that white is peaceful and beautiful.

[bobinarizona]

We in Phoenix know all about snow--we see it on television every year! Enjoy.

[mjazzguitar]

The muhammadans should dismantle the buildings they have there and let the Jews rebuild the Temple.

[Kitchenella]

I don't think this was the biggest snowstorm in 20 years. 13years ago it snowed 19. Inches and was a colder snow that didn't melt until the following Tuesday. This snow was not 19" IMO.
It has already almost all melted.

[jack_433]

This has to be Global Warming.

[The_Bobster]

Sure, partyline, change the name to keep your little scam alive. Are you going to call it global cooling next? Oh, yeah, you've already done it in the past.

[bobinarizona]

I thought we all froze to death in the dark back in the 70s? After that Alar on Apples knocked off the few survivors so there CAN'T be anyone around to notice global warming can there nopartyline? Then there all those sea monsters and giant ants A-bomb testing released on us Oh Lord it's Horrible!But then the drought in America follows closely the floods in America followed by droughts followed by..............

Enjoy your hysteria, say hell-o to Uncle ManBearPigGore.

[ymedad]

Not really just "people" in that caption. Only Muslims can act like that on the Temple Mount. Jews and Christains are but visitors, tourists and surely cannot pray, nor play soccer or throw snowballs.