The unseasonably cold wintry weather around Israel in the past week has been most costly for farmers, who report many crops were destroyed. The loss to crops occurred primarily in the center and north of the country. The fund established to assist farmers in such cases reports receiving over 500 claims, primarily due to high winds, hail and heavy rains. The experts feel the figure given, over 20 million NIS is low and in time, that number will increase significantly.

The major loss was from the hail in the north and center, destroying summer fruits including plums, cherries, peaches and nectarines.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)