As the winter weather slowly winds its way towards the Holy Land, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu gathered officials in Jerusalem on Tuesday to review final details and preparation for the anticipated storm.
Meeting in Jerusalem City Hall on January 6 were, among others, Mayor Nir Barkat and Jerusalem District Police Commander Moshe Edry, as well as representatives of the IDF, social welfare institutions, the Israel Electric Corp. and rescue services.
“I am impressed by the authorities’ coordination and preparatory work,” Netanyahu said, summarizing the meeting.
“We have three missions. The first is to save lives. The second is to ensure the continuity of essential services. The third is to provide mutual assistance and guarantee – residents helping residents.
“Beyond what the state is doing and will do, beyond what the municipalities are doing and will do, I ask the citizens of Israel to watch out for their neighbors and to help. The people of Israel excel at this.”
Last year’s storm found motorists scattered around on major arteries leading to the capital because numerous Israelis were curious and “wanted to see the snow.” This year officials are nipping that risk in the bud, and have announced that all major roads leading to the city will be shut down on Wednesday morning, when the storm is expected to hit the city.