Hundreds of Christians, defying lashing rain and wind, filled the ancient Bethlehem church that marks Jesus’s traditional birthplace for Christmas Day Mass today.

Under tight security, Palestinian militants exiled by Israel left Cyprus today on board two European planes for six EU nations that have agreed to offer them temporary asylum.

Italy threw a spanner in the works today just as Israel and the Palestinians agreed to terms for ending the 36 day siege of Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity.