Storms crossing northern and central Israel since Friday reached climax Wednesday, as major flooding and power cuts forced school closures across the West Bank and Golan Heights and snow hit the capital Jerusalem.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed its forces were engaged in rescuing people stranded by the extreme weather conditions, as its search and rescue teams successfully evacuating 15 people in one instance trapped on the roof of a building in Baqa al-Gharbiyye.
In an echo of the pre-election US climate in early November, when Hurricane Sandy caused havoc across the East Coast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged to survey the response ad project authority at Israel police's traffic control centre at Bet Dagan on Wednesday, as Israel’s own January 22 elections approach ever closer.
"We waited many years for this rain, and I hope it remains for a blessing, and will not cause fatalities," he said, calling on the public to act responsibly and listen to the police's directives.
Netanyahu thanked the public for its "patience," saying they understand that after the traffic jams disappear, "we will remain with full water reservoirs which we need."
A statement by Israeli Air Force (IAF) Meteorological Centre Commander Lt. Col. Eran Beja on Wednesday revealed the teams are in the process of carrying out “frequent assessments, adjusting priorities and making decisions regarding activity on all the air force bases”. Israeli Navy Forces were similarly engaged in search and rescue efforts.
Israeli emergency service Magon David Adom (MDA) confirmed it has treated 70 people who were injured as a result of the stormy weather since Sunday night alone, including one fatality. On Tuesday a man in his 80s died during a blaze in his home that was apparently started by a short-circuit in his electric blanket.
A woman in her 60s was seriously injured by a rock slide while making a pilgrimage to the grave of Rabbi Meir Ba’al Ha’Ness.
Other injuries include those caused by hypothermia, windblown objects, and fallen trees, according to MDA.
In addition, 285 car accident casualties received treatment. Three died of their injuries.
A day previously, the Home Front Command issued a caution to Israeli citizens not to enter hazardous areas caused by this week’s increasingly stormy conditions, as it warned especially of the dangers posed to hikers by desert flooding. "Hikers who travel to the desert need to be updated regarding the likelihood of flooding. Furthermore, in large floods, wide streams with large drainage basins will have significant overflow, which cross roads. Vehicles that underestimate the strength of the current, may be tempted to attempt crossing the flood path, and get stuck or be swept away,” concluded the official statement.
After a series of road closures and necessary rescue of car passengers Wednesday, including the successful evacuation of two adults and two children whose car was caught up by water flows in Ein Kerem on the outskirts of Jerusalem, as the city of Jerusalem made all bus and light travel free to passengers after 6pm to encourage drivers to stay off the roads.
Jerusalem schools faced early closure as the snow began to fall, initially settling in the southern neighbourhoods of Gilo and Armon Hanativ. Hail was also reported in the commercial capital of Tel Aviv, as Israel's manufacturers association estimated the damage to the business sector could reach NIS 300 million (€61 million).
Admitting the unit’s ability to predict the scale of flooding was minimal, the Home Front Command statement further warned households to prepare a specified emergency kit should they find themselves stranded by flooding.
Meanwhile Palestinian authorities claimed the harshest storms to have hit the West Bank in a decade had claimed the lives of two Palestinian women, who drowned after their car was caught up in flash flooding. In Gaza, civil defence spokesman Mohammed al-Haj Yousef said storms have cut electricity powering thousands of homes and rescuers were sent to evacuate dozens of people.