A fierce sandstorm hit Jerusalem Friday, forcing United States President Barack Obama to travel by motorcade to Bethlehem, just south of Jerusalem, rather than by helicopter as scheduled, according to an Israeli police spokeswoman cited by Agence France Presse. Spokeswoman Luba Samri told AFP that the stormy weather precluded flying, with Obama likely to drive directly from Bethlehem to Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv from where he was scheduled to depart for Jordan on Air Force One.