Jerusalem schools, kindergartens to remain closed Friday

The Jerusalem Municipality decided late Thursday that schools and kindergartens would remain closed throughout the capital on Friday, so as not to endanger students.

Though the snowfall in the city abated Thursday evening, the low temperatures and fear of icy roads dictated the decision not to risk sending children to school, and rewarded them with an extra day in which to play in the rapidly melting snow.

Schools were also ordered closed in Gush Etzion, Hebron, Mevasseret Zion and towns in the Binyamin region. Studies were to take place as usual in the north of the country, in spite of Thursday’s snowfall, as well as in the Samaria Regional Council.

Municipal workers plowed snow and spread salt on frozen roads throughout the night.

The past week’s storm was widely described as the heaviest Israel has seen in decades.