Thanks for that, WAV.

From HERE:

As small as Israel is, the climate varies greatly from north to south. Our favorite times to go are March-April (wildflower season) and September-October. The Negev desert forms the southern two-thirds of the country, and summer in the Negev can be too hot to enjoy (temperatures above 100 F/37 C). It's possible to see desert sights in the summer if you go sightseeing early in the day. It can get quite wet and cold during the winter (you might even see a white Christmas in Jerusalem or Bethlehem).

Looks like Christina might have been bang on the nail...