Originally published by Ma’an News Agency on January 10, 2015.
As the third day of winter Storm Huda came to a close on Friday, snow blanketed the hills of central and northern Palestine and covered the landscape in a coat of white.
Snow fell heavily in the hours before and after sunset and stayed on the ground overnight, as temperatures dipped a few degrees below zero.Fears of major road blockages did not, materialize, as snow accumulation was relatively little and emergency crews were out in force immediately to clear major thoroughfares.
Despite this, the majority of businesses remained closed Friday into the evening as they had the day before, residents bunkering down at home to beat the cold.
In Bethlehem, however, families and young people wandered the streets, throwing snowballs and getting a glimpse of the holy city’s major sites covered in snow.
In the Old City, crowds gathered at Nativity Square to admire the Church and wander the local alleyways. Around Cinema Square in the city’s modern heart, meanwhile, pedestrians roamed the streets, largely free from vehicular traffic.
Areas in Bethlehem’s north were quieter, with the Israeli separation wall looming large as it runs through the city near Aida and Azza refugee camps.
