Record-breaking rainfall and rare snow have ended a nearly
decade-long drought in Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and
the Palestinian-ruled territories.   JERUSALEM – Israelis slid
down parts of the Old City on cardboard Thursday and soldiers
worked with Palestinians to free people trapped by an
extraordinary snowfall that blanketed the area to the delight
and frustration of many.  Record-breaking rainfall followed by
rare snow have ended a nearly decade-long drought in Lebanon,
Syria, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and the Palestinian-ruled
territories. But the torrential rains and arrival of a few
inches of snow Wednesday overwhelmed a region more accustomed to
sandstorms than snow flurries.  Several storm-related deaths and
injuries were reported. Two Palestinian women in the West Bank
died when they fled a car surrounded by raging floodwaters; a
man in Gaza was electrocuted. In Egypt, 10 fishermen were
reported missing in stormy seas that forced the closure of ports
on the Mediterranean.  But for most it was