Reports, the celebrations have returned. Reporter mixed feeling between the celebration and the sad feeling. Reporter that sad feeling shared widely this year. After months of violence in the occupied palestinian territories and israel left 19 israelis and more than 130 palestinians dead, israel says more than half of those palestinians were attackers. In manger square, the birthplace of jesus, the crowds smaller. Tourism suffering. People say theyve never seen it like this. But at the same time, there resilience. People insist to celebrate christmas to send a message of hope that we, the christians and muslims, the palestinians are here. We were here. And well stay here forever. Natalee. Are you going to celebrate more this year because of the violence . Because the only way you peace by happiness, by music. Merry christmas. Molly hunter, abc news, bethlehem. Back here in the state environmentalists are delivering a bit of a buzz kill over americas christmas lights. While light displa
Announcer from abc news, this is world news now. Good morning, and very Merry Christmas to you. Im Marci Gonzales in for reena ninan. And Merry Christmas. Nice to be spending the holiday with you and you, as well. Thank you for joining us here. We want to get to our top story because it is tragic. Deadly tornadoes in the south and mist that killed at least 14 people. Among the hardest hit areas northwestern mississippi where seven people have died. Dozens more have been injured some seriously. Abcs phillip mena has the story. Reporter Severe Weather still on the move. With blinding rain in alabama and flooded roads south of atlanta. This after a devastating christmas week tornado outbreak. Oh i think thats a tornado brewing up reporter over 24 tornadoes reported. I looked up, the roof was blowing off the house. Reporter watch as these two tornadoes merge into one massive twister. Swirling winds lifting this tractor trailer and sending it careening onto its side. In holly springs, missi
Crispy or the original. Original. I was always an original person back when i ate the bird. It was good stuff. Love it. Good yard bird there at kfc. This is something of a christmas tradition, as well. Water skiing on the potomac near the nations cital. Interesting. This is the 30th year st. Nick made the splash joined this year by mrs. Clause elves, reindeer, frosty the snowman. Surprised he didt melt in this weather and even the grinch was there. We didnt spot any members of congress out there, but who knows. Cheering them on. There was a g grinch y mentioned. So im sorry, kidding. So kids if santa doesnt bring you what you wanted this morning, now you know what he was doing instead. The temperatures in d. C. , yeah, upper 70s. Cant resist. Yesterday. A lot of sleep in new york because there was an Ice Cream Truck outside my apartment. Ice cream truck on Christmas Eve. First time ever that has been in new york city. On Christmas Eve. Azing. Coming up in the skinny, chrimas treasure c
Violence in honduras and el salvador. Their request for asylum in the u. S. Were denied but they havent left. I think what theyre trying to do is send a message saying dont come and in order to do that, i think they believe if there are images of families Central America, that its going to deter people from coming. The plan has to be approved by the white house and opposition is fierce from both left and right and even within Homeland Security itself. 36 years after their capture, the americans taken hostage in 1979 are set to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Thats after a provision in the spending deal signed last week. Each of the 53 hostages and their estates are set to receive up to 4. 4 million. Spouses and children eligible for a 600,000 payment, the hostages spent 444 days in captivity. We got a somber message from the pope during his Christmas Eve mass. Pope francis condemned what he called societys intoxicationing with consumerism, pleasure, abundance and wealth. W
Always gives him a warm feeling to celebrate christmas with the to uses of people who gathered here. He also welcomed two Refugee Families hosted by Catholic Charities who were there for the service. He didnt identify them but said one family fled el salvador and one from the ivory coast. He talked about his christmas message god is everywhere. Its something he shared with Savannah Guthrie on the today show. There is a freshness and newness there all the time. This year i think especially because we so crave the hope and the light and the promise. Reporter Cardinal Dolan had a lot to talk about in is homily and his sermon. He also reminisced, gus, about Pope Franciss visit here just three months ago he shared an he can dote of what pope francis said when he arrived here to st. Patricks cathedral. A little bit taken aback, a little surprised when he saw the cathedral. We will tell you all that b. And great to he so the cathedral with all the scaffolding off it after so many years. We wi