Jerusalem: Blizzards have dumped a blanket of snow over Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, with many residents urged to stay in their homes because of blocked or icy roads.

People in Jerusalem woke up to around 25 centimetres of snow after the second major blizzard of winter swept across the hilltop Holy City.

Snowball fights in front of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem's Old City. Credit:Reuters

Schools closed for the day and urban bus services were limited.

The two main highways into Jerusalem, which climb to around 795 metres above sea level, were closed in both directions.