Transcript for This day in history: Dec. 24, 2000

On this Christmas Eve we begin in Bethlehem more tonight the house the president. And the future of the city are colliding Yasser Arafat was there because of the holiday. But the conflict and the drive to end that conflict rarely takes a holiday. Negotiations in Washington this past week brought little progress the week ahead may be crucial. All of this is leaving its mark on what to some is the holiest day of the year so we turned ABC's Deborah Amos who's in Bethlehem tonight deputy. And there are signs of progress in Israel tonight the Israeli prime minister said Israel has to make a deal now even though the talks. For about the most painful issues. Palestinian negotiators were more cautious they flew here to Bethlehem tonight straight from Washington to brief the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Wednesday is the deadline to let President Clinton know that the peace talks are going to go ahead. Arafat was here tonight to take part in a subdued Christmas celebration. Yasser Arafat was in Bethlehem tonight for the traditional midnight mass at the church of the nativity it's his first visit here since the early days of the violence. But the crowds in Bethlehem today were mainly local. The Israeli army which controls access to Bethlehem opened the check points for the first time today. Only a few pilgrims made it three. Better. I'm gonna benefit you but that they could get a break but it needs a vet they have. It will take a lot to convince Bethlehem that any peace deal is near the weeks of turmoil and violence have shaken the city. Bethlehem expected to host more than a million tourists and pilgrims this year it did not come close tonight. Manger square is nearly empty tourism as almost evaporated along with the hope that life will return to normal anytime soon. We thought that this would be the bath. He's a puff the best Christmas for us. It's been the worse for George Jack and then they shop has been open for 75 years but it's the first time he's had to borrow money to meet payroll. The 21 hotels in the city are almost all empty the only visitors are Palestinian families who've been bombed out of their homes in recent weeks. There is one American guest Fred strict guard who came here to bring a note of hope to Bethlehem. It what really. It actually twelve notes come on up High Court and that hasn't been heard in Bethlehem Lutheran Christmas church in twenty years. Strict cart was part of a larger group a 120 member choir who cancel their trip but he was determined to fix the organ for Christmas. We're the ones who are always receiving everything and for once. Seems like we can give something of a little bit of hope in this this difficult time. For. For one night at least. The spirit of Christmas came to this Bethlehem church. Deborah Amos ABC news Bethlehem.

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