OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Early snow has surprised many Israelis and Palestinians as a blustery storm, dubbed Alexa, brought gusty winds, torrential rains and heavy snowfall to parts of the Middle East. Occupied Jerusalem schools canceled classes and buses in and out of the city were not operating Thursday. Palm and cypress trees were blanketed in white, people threw snowballs along the walls of Jerusalem's Old City and a snowman was built across from a US Consulate building. It also snowed lightly throughout the West Bank. Schools and government offices were closed. Gaza's health ministry says 30 people were evacuated to hospitals after heavy rains caused flooding on Wednesday. – AP
