IN PICTURES: The frozen people! Israel hit by snowstorm

20 February 2015, 11:59 am

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin plays with granddaughters Karni and Ziv in the snow that covered his Jerusalem residence's garden.

A heavy snowstorm has shut down roads leading in and out of Jerusalem and covered Israel’s desert with a rare layer of white.

Snow has also landed in parts of the West Bank as a cold front swept through the Middle East. In Gaza, heavy rains that started on Thursday have been forecast for the rest of the week.

Jerusalem municipality spokeswoman Brachie Sprung says 10 inches of snow have already landed on the city, with more expected to fall.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has fun in the snow!

Israeli President Ruvi Rivlin enjoying the the snow in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/8OsZBexG1r

— Israel News Flash (@ILNewsFlash) February 20, 2015

Temple Mount, including the Dome of the Rock, is covered in thick white snow.

PHOTOS: Stunning shots of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem covered with snow, as heavy snowstorm continues. pic.twitter.com/7sULccbkDe

— Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) February 20, 2015

…and the Kotel:

The Kotel today. Via @TimesofIsrael pic.twitter.com/x8Lyb2Mi8X

— IDF Elite (@idfelite) February 20, 2015

An #Israel soldier enjoys the #snow in winter#Israel #Jerusalem #kotel RT pic.twitter.com/m9Q5SORLcZ

— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) February 20, 2015

Looking over Jerusalem’s hills:

BREAKING PHOTOS: Stunning shots of Jerusalem right now, as heavy snowfall continues. – (@MrPeeZee) pic.twitter.com/dlT6REBiNq — Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) February 20, 2015

The Mount of Olives:

JERUSALEM: Mount Olives Jewish cemetery covered in snow. pic.twitter.com/j7xYldsD6A — Israel News Flash (@ILNewsFlash) February 20, 2015

Still time to go to pray at the Kotel..

JERUSALEM OF SNOW: Women of the Wall leaders on their way to the Kotel on foot in the snow!! pic.twitter.com/Rgz7lIGQWn — Women of the Wall (@Womenofthewall) February 20, 2015

Preparing for Shabbat might be a little more difficult this week….

Gettin’ It Done: @UnitedHatzalah rescue Jeeps now in Geula neighborhood in Jerusalem as massive snowstorm continues. pic.twitter.com/BmW8JV992s” — Miriam L. Wallach (@MiriamLWallach) February 20, 2015

Miracles even happen during the snow it seems..

As massive snowstorm continues, Hatzolah paramedics helped a woman deliver a baby on the streets of Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/ECQn571XS8 — Israel News Feed (@IsraelHatzolah) February 20, 2015

Desert towns of Beersheba, Dimona and Yerucham were sprinkled with white and residents of Arad proudly showed off a snowman.

Snow has also been falling since Thursday in Lebanon and on Friday, it paralysed most streets in the Jordanian capital, Amman.