Jerusalem is a city that never really sleeps, but right now, it's just trying to stay dry. Honestly, if you walked through the Old City this morning, you wouldn't just see the usual tension; you'd see a lot of people soaking wet and dodging puddles the size of small ponds. It's Tuesday, January 13, 2026, and the latest news in jerusalem israel isn't just about politics for once—it's about a massive winter storm that is basically grinding parts of the city to a halt.
The Storm That Actually Stopped Traffic
It’s rare for weather to outpace the headlines here. But today, the Jerusalem Post is reporting that the city just got hammered with 41 millimeters of rain in a single night. That might not sound like much if you're from London or Seattle, but for a city built on hills with ancient drainage, it’s a mess. Winds have been whipping around at 65 kilometers per hour.
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You’ve got the Naomi Shemer Tunnel at the eastern entrance of the city—usually a packed artery—becoming a literal trap. Police had to pull people out of submerged cars there today. Just down the road in Abu Ghosh, firefighters were doing the same thing, rescuing a man and a woman whose car was underwater up to the windows. The woman actually lost consciousness for a bit. It’s scary stuff that most people don't associate with a desert-adjacent climate.
Why Latest News in Jerusalem Israel Still Feels Heavy
Despite the rain, the political landscape hasn't cleared up. There's a lot of noise right now about what’s happening in East Jerusalem neighborhoods like Silwan and Batn al-Hawa. Basically, the "Execution and Enforcement Department" just served notices to about 33 homes. We're talking around 220 people who are now on a 21-day countdown to eviction. It’s a move that local governors are calling a "dangerous escalatory step."
And then there's the UNRWA situation. Just today, January 13, word came out that Israeli authorities notified an UNRWA clinic in the Old City that it has to close its doors. This follows those laws passed back in late 2024 that are finally being fully felt on the ground. For the people who live in the Old City and rely on that specific clinic, this isn't just a policy change; it’s a "where do I go for my medicine" problem.
The Construction Boom Nobody Noticed
If you look up past the umbrellas, you'll see cranes. Lots of them. Jerusalem is in the middle of a massive identity shift. The city engineer, Yoel Even, recently dropped a bombshell at a builders' conference: they’ve gone from approving 2,000 housing units a year to 8,000.
They are expecting 500,000 more residents over the next 25 years. To handle that, they’re rolling out something called "pre-TABA" agreements starting this quarter. It’s basically a way to force developers to commit to building public spaces—parks, clinics, schools—before they even get their plans approved. It’s an attempt to bring some "economic certainty" to a city that usually feels like it's winging it.
Security and Diplomacy Behind Closed Doors
On a broader scale, Netanyahu just signed a security pact with Germany right here in Jerusalem. It’s focused heavily on Iran, which is interesting because the government has been surprisingly quiet about the protests currently rocking Tehran. Rumor has it the security establishment told ministers to keep their mouths shut so they don't give the Iranian regime any "propaganda fuel."
Meanwhile, there's the E1 project. If you follow the latest news in jerusalem israel, you know E1 is the "third rail" of local politics. On January 9, authorities issued a 45-day notice to start the "Life Fabric" project. This is a $98 million plan to link the Maale Adumim settlement directly to Jerusalem. Critics say it’ll basically cut the West Bank in half, making a future Palestinian state nearly impossible. It’s been frozen since 2020, but the thaw is happening right now.
Actionable Insights for Right Now
If you're in the city or planning to head there this week, here is the ground-level reality:
- Avoid the Low Spots: Stay away from the Eastern entrance tunnels and Highway 90 near the Dead Sea. The flooding is real and the police are closing roads without much warning.
- Check the Flights: Haifa Airport is already shut down due to the weather. Ben Gurion is still running, but delays are stacking up.
- Infrastructure Shifting: If you're looking at real estate or development, the new pre-TABA rules mean the "wild west" era of building in Jerusalem is ending. You need to account for public land allocations from day one.
- Security Posture: Even with the rain, there's a heavy police presence in Silwan and the Old City due to the eviction notices and the UNRWA clinic closure. Give yourself extra time for checkpoints.
The city is currently a mix of high-tech construction plans and ancient-world tensions, all wrapped in a cold, grey winter storm. Things are moving fast, and the "status quo" is a word people use, but nobody really believes in anymore.
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Keep an eye on the municipal drainage projects and the 45-day E1 deadline. Those are the two things that will dictate the city's "vibe" for the rest of the winter.