Due to the snow, wind, and hailstorm expected to continue to rage in northern and central Israel, many schools around the country have been closed Thursday. However some are opening - albeit with delays.
- Jerusalem: Jerusalem's Municipality decided early Thursday morning that all schools will begin at 10:00 a.m. across the city. Students are asked to exercise caution when traveling to school and educational staff are asked to arrive early to assist. Public transportation as well as the Jerusalem Light Rail are running as normal.
- Beitar Illit: Like Jerusalem, schools will reopen at 10 a.m. including grade school and day care. Special education schools, however, are closed.
- Greater Jerusalem area: schools have been closed in the following neighborhoods - Givat Ze'ev, Mevaseret Zion, Efrat, Beit El, Beit Horon, and Kiryat Yearim.
- Ariel: Despite being scheduled to close, an evaluation held Thursday morning determined that snow is not expected to continue and therefore schools will be opened from 10:00 a.m.
- Binyamin Regional Council: Schools are canceled in Eli, Shilo, Ofra, Kohav Yaakov, Tel Zion, Dolev, Adam, Talmon, Kohav Hashahar, Neria, Amona, Shvut Rahel, Adei Ad, Kedar, Ma'ale Levona, Psagot.
- Gush Etzion Regional Council: Schools are canceled in Giva Tzihova, Alon Shvut, Avi HaNachal, Elazar, Bat Ayin, Gvaot, Kfar Etzion, Carmei Tzur, Migdal Oz, Ma'ale Amos, Metzad, Neve Daniel, Pnei Kedem, Rosh Tzurim, and Sde Boaz. Special education schools will be closed in all areas of the council.
- Gush Etzion, continued: A delay until 10:00 a.m. is in place for schools in Kfar Eldad, Ma'ale Rehavam, Nokdim, Sde Bar, Tekoa, and Har Gilo.
- Har Hevron Regional Council: There will be no school in Othniel and Sussia.
- Samaria Regional Council: All schools will open at 9 a.m. except for institutions with safety issues due to the inclement weather. The council asks residents to remain careful on the roads but notes that public transportation is running.
- Mateh Yehuda (Judea) Regional Council: School is cancelled in Neve Ilan, Ramat Rahel, Ora, Even Sapir, Kiryat Anavim, Hadassah, Aminadav, Maale Hahamisha, Tzur Hadassah, Beit Meir, Beit Zayit, Nes Harim, Motza, Givat Yearim, Ein Rafa, Nataf, Kisalon, Ein Nekuva, Tzova, Beit Nekufa, Shoresh, Yad Hashmona, and Mateh.
- North: School has been canceled in Beit Jann, all towns in the Misgav Regional Council and the Golan Regional Council, and Safed. In the Upper Galilee Regionl, schools in Kibbutz Sasa and Yaron have been canceled. Several towns in the Marom Galil Regional Council have canceled school as well.
- Schools will remain open in a limited capacity in the following communities: Nili, Na'ale, Michmash, Mitzpe Yericho, Kfar Adumim, Mevo Horon, Hashmonaim, and Kfar Oranim.
All studies elsewhere in Israel resumed on schedule as normal.
Additional information can be found on the Ministry of Education's website and Facebook page.