Severe Snow Storm Hits Mideast

A severe winter storm pounded the Middle East for a third day on Friday bringing with it heavy snow and floods. In the West Bank city of Ramallah residents struggled to walk outside as mounds of snow blanketed the streets. In some parts of Israel and the West Bank government offices and schools were closed to wait out the winter weather. In Jerusalem on Thursday schools cancelled classes and buses in and out of the city were not operating. Snow blanketed palm and cypress trees. It also battered most parts of central and southern Jordan, shutting down government offices, causing power disruptions, blocking roads and stranding motorists.