Gale-force winds are tearing through the country. Cloud-bursts in the south but not enough rain though. Up in the north there's rain and I believe hail and snow as well. Right now it's around 5 degrees but it's expected to drop further. I'm sick in bed with an awful headache and cold. That's the price for standing out in the rain the whole afternoon yesterday.
Meantime a man has died of swine flu here in Jerusalem. http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/jerusalem-man-dies-of-h1n1-swine-flu-1.330066 In any other country, there'd be a national reaction - hygiene warnings, precautions - but here people will continue to cough in your face, spit in the streets and never wash their hands. Absolute horror. With my lower resistance, I'll have to be extra careful.
And there's more exchange of fire between Gaza and Israel. Street talk here predicts an explosion of violence soon.
It's 6 degrees now but it feels like 2 degrees because of the wind. Snow in the Golan and heavy rains throughout Galilee. Sandstorm in the south - yellow skies and sandstorm covering the entire area making visibility quite bad. Rains are expected later today. http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=198953
The Old City is smothered by sand blown from the desert by gale-force winds. (left)
The Mt. of Olives is barely visible from the sandstorm. (right)
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