Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

U.S.-Iran Tension; Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"; Closing the Education Gap; Woman Rescued From Burning SUV; Israel Battles Huge Wildfire

Aired December 05, 2010 - 19:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, it is the top of the hour. I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for joining us.

`A stunning announcement out of Iran today, exactly the kind of message western governments did not want to hear.

Iran says it can make nuclear fuel from scratch, including a crucial component known as "yellow cake". Until now, Iran has had to depend on other countries for this raw material from which uranium is made.

CNN's Reza Sayah explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Iranian government on Sunday touting its production of yellow cake as a major achievement for its nuclear program. And whenever there's news of progress with Iran's nuclear program, those who are alarmed about Iran immediately question whether the achievement was legal, whether it was done secretly, and whether Iran was closer to building a nuclear bomb.

We should say from the outset that it takes a lot more than yellow cake to build a nuclear bomb. And on Sunday both U.S. officials as well as officials from the U.N.'s nuclear watch dog came out and said this is not a surprise that they knew all along that Iran was looking to produce yellow cake.

Yellow cake is a powdery substance produced from mined uranium ore. Without yellow cake you can't produce enriched uranium which is the fuel that nuclear reactors used to generate electricity. Also if you enrich uranium to 90 percent levels, you can build nuclear bombs, something experts say that Iran is not capable of doing at this point.

It is highly unlikely that Iran's announcement on Sunday a day before talks with the U.S. and its allies over its nuclear program was coincidence. Of course, for the past few years the U.S. and its allies have been doing what they can to weaken and undermine Iran's nuclear program. This announcement by the Iranian government on Sunday was a message to the U.S. and its allies that despite the U.N. sanctions, that despite the outside pressure, it's moving forward with its nuclear program and specifically moving forward with enriching uranium.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Islamabad. (END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, Reza thank you.

If Iran's claim is true, it poses a serious potential threat to global stability and security. Both Republicans and Democrats are in a rare agreement about this that Iran is treading on very dangerous ground.

First, former GOP House Speaker, Newt Gingrich followed by Democratic Senator, John Kerry of Massachusetts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), FORMER GOP HOUSE SPEAKER: The Iranians have been pretty straightforward. They say every day that goes by they get stronger. And if the world doesn't do something decisive to replace this dictatorship, we're going to be faced with a nuclear-armed Iran in the very near future.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Well, I think there's going to be a very serious discussion at the United Nations and the National Security Council. There will be a very discussion with our allies about steps to take to really ratchet down significantly the sanctions. If the Iranian leadership doesn't get it by now and they're not willing to be a legitimate partner in non-proliferation efforts in the country, then we're going to have to take stronger steps to push them in that direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Stalled nuclear talks between Iran, the U.S. and five other countries are set to resume tomorrow in Geneva.

Don't get too used to how your Facebook page looks. Ok, it's about to undergo a major makeover. Starting tomorrow, the popular social networking site will begin rolling out the new design for members profile pages.

Here's what you can expect. Ok, a more prominent spot for photos that you've recently posted and pictures of you that are tagged by your friends. There will also be a new bio space at the top of your profile page and another feature will show details of your relationship with particular Facebook friends like comments you've exchanged and events you've gone to together. Makeover for Facebook.

Top senators say there's a good chance they will soon reach a compromise on extending the Bush tax cuts. We'll talk with Mark Preston about the political wrangling going on, on Capitol Hill.

A father confesses to a horrendous crime as a search continues for two children in Alabama.

And 'tis the season for giving; see how one person has been giving a huge gift to charity every Christmas for the past 20 years and no one knows who she is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: When you hear that music, most times you know it is for Mark Preston. So let's check in now on the world of politics with CNN senior political editor, Mr. Mark Preston in Washington. Look at you, grinning greeting like a Cheshire Cat.

MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, it's the beginning of the week, I'm happy.

LEMON: You have some inside information about Michael Steele and the Republican Party leadership race. We talked a little bit about it our last hour. There are new developments that are in right now, as well.

PRESTON: There are. And -- and -- and today -- and just today, Don, Reince Priebus (ph), he is the Wisconsin Republican Party chairman he has stepped down as the general counsel for the RNC. This is a big deal because he was a very close ally to Michael Steele and I spoke to Reince tonight just before we came on air. I asked him if he himself was considering running for the chairman. He said he would have an announcement shortly.

So if Reince Priebus does get into this race for the RNC chairman, it would certainly shake things up. A lot of people already Don, are looking at running.

LEMON: Well, Mark, this -- this might seem like insider stuff to some people. Why is it important to already be talking about who is going lead the Republican Party?

PRESTON: It is and that's a -- that's a great question Don, because it is inside baseball, but when inside baseball becomes really national baseball, it becomes a big story and the reason why is because the next chairman of the Republican National Committee, Don, is going to be charged with trying to soften up President Obama.

You're going to have Republicans on in the House of Representatives and in the senate who are going to be charged with legislating. They can't look like they're overtly partisan and acting overtly political when they're attacking the president.

In addition, you're going to have a lot of folks who are running for president but they're not going to be able to spend all their time attacking President Obama. They're going to be attacking one another because they're going to try to win the nomination.

So it will be the next chairman of the RNC whole will be charged with A, softening up President Obama and B, trying to raise as much money as possible, perhaps $425 million alone, Don, to try to defeat President Obama in 2012.

LEMON: Ok, Mark, it's December 5th and you know December gets condensed, accelerated because of the holidays. There aren't many working days in December. What about this battle over extending the Bush tax cuts? Any chance of a compromise before the end of the year in this lame duck session? PRESTON: Don, I think there has to be a compromise and we heard that this morning on the Sunday shows. Republicans and Democrats both agree even though they -- they don't agree on all the semantics of the tax cut proposal, they do agree something has to be done. It looks like it will be a short term deal, nothing has been announced, but it's one of these things where -- where Democrats will have to cave-in and allow these tax cuts to extend for people who are making beyond $250,000 as well as potentially Republicans giving in and allowing jobless benefits to extend.

So we have several more days for them to try to work it out. You're right, we are in December, people are very tired from the midterm elections but allowing these tax cuts to expire would really be political suicide Don, for both Republicans and Democrats.

LEMON: Yes and you heard Bill Bennett talk about it last hour. That was a great interview. I always like to hear -- hear Bill Bennett talk whether you agree with him or not; sometimes I don't always agree with him. He's a good guy when it comes to that.

Hey, Mark, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

For all the latest and greatest political headlines, make sure you tune in to Mark Preston in Washington. You can also go to CNNPolitics.com as well.

Thanks again to Mark.

The hour glass is running out for Congress. We're going to stick in Washington -- it's running out to repeal "don't ask, don't tell." Can they reach a compromise on that? And what will it take to reach a resolution? We're going to dig for some answers for you coming up in our panel.

Plus, two missing kids in Alabama, the search narrows in on an area in Mobile after the father gives police some gruesome details.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Let's check your top stories right now on CNN.

Alabama police resume the grim task today, searching for the bodies of two Alabama children missing since June. Police believe their father and stepmother killed them. The father reportedly gave the police a general location where he remembers burying the bodies.

A dangerous rescue effort under way in the frigid waters off Alaska; it's a cargo ship that is carrying nearly half a million gallons of crude oil. It lost power in a remote area of the Illusion Island (ph). Now, right now a rescue tug is trying to pull the ship to safe harbor, but it has been -- it had some bad weather -- and hit some bad weather and high seas but both are working against it.

If you are heading to Europe, be sure to pack your heavy coat. Look at that. Parts of the continent are in an icy freeze. Snow and subzero temperatures have made driving very dangerous. Dozens of people are reported dead in weather-related accidents and from exposure. In Poland, Russia, Germany, France and the Czech Republic, flights have been snarled, but are expected to be back to normal this week.

So Congress only has two weeks left in its lame duck session and it may not get around to a possible repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." We'll see. A recent Pentagon report showed most service members would be ok with a repeal, but some are dead set against it.

Our Kate Bolduan explains where some of the strong opposition is coming from.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some of the most intense and divergent views on gays serving openly in the military according to the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" report exist among military chaplains.

GEN. CARTER HAM, DIR. OPERATIONS, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: There is very clearly a concern out there by chaplains that they would somehow be treated adversely if they held or espoused religious views that were contrary to the government's view if the law is repealed.

BOLDUAN: That is just one concern expressed by some of the military's spiritual advisors.

DOUGLAS LEE, RETIRED ARMY CHAPLAIN: The reason we are against the repeal is simple will of because of moral issues.

BOLDUAN: Retired Army chaplain, Douglas Lee is one of dozens of retired chaplains who wrote to President Obama and Defense Secretary Robert Gates opposing the repeal. They write, quote, "We believe that normalizing homosexual conduct in the Armed Forces will pose a significant threat to chaplains' and service members' religious liberty."

LEE: I fear and many others fear that down the road knowing the other agenda items that are on the plate of those who are promoting homosexual lifestyle, down the road would be a concern that chaplains would be restricted from proclaiming their faith tenets.

BOLDUAN: But other military chaplains say it's just the opposite. Retired Air Force chaplain Jerry Rhyne supports repealing the policy and says the bigger issue is discrimination.

CHAPLAIN JERRY L. RHYNE, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.): The scriptures, the gospels, tell us that we need to love our neighbors as ourselves. And so if you provide ministry on that basis, you cannot reject somebody based on their sexual orientation or their lifestyle, but you have to love them as a human being.

BOLDUAN: Chaplain Rhyne agrees with Defense Secretary Gates that safeguards are in place for service members and the Chaplain corps to ensure that one person's religious views don't interfere with another's. ROBERT GATES, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: There is an obligation to care for all. But it also is clear that the chaplains are not going to be asked to teach something they don't believe in.

BOLDUAN (on camera): despite the divergent opinions, a change in policy would have little impact on the Chaplain corps according to the report. Only three out of about 145 chaplains who participated suggested they would quit or leave if the law was changed.

Kate Bolduan, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. I spoke about "don't ask, don't tell" a short time ago with conservative radio host and CNN political contributor William Bennett. He says the debate over any possible repeal can't end yet.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIAM BENNETT, CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR: The closer you get to combat, the more opposition you get. Marines who are going to be in combat are opposed. Also Army folks who are in combat -- combat Army are opposed. We say we want to pay attention to them, we want to do everything for them, we want to honor them, we probably ought to honor their wishes, at least take them seriously.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: I would welcome Eric Alva via Skype. He is a former Marine staff sergeant and spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign. Thanks for joining us.

So, Sergeant Alva was the very first American wounded in the Iraq war. I want to get that clear. Very first American wounded. He is also gay and he wants to see "don't ask, don't tell" come to an end.

You heard what Bill Bennett had to say there mentioning that your branch, the Marines, seem to be the most opposed to repeal. Why is that?

ERIC ALVA, SPOKESMAN, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: You know, I can understand Marines being the most, you know, pretty much narcissistic in our branch of the service because they are deemed the best and sometimes they are the last ones to actually accept change.

I remember when "don't ask, don't tell" was about to be initiated into law, we held discussions on what the new law was going to be about. Because I was -- before "don't ask, don't tell" imposed on us is when I joined the Military.

So we were apprehensive then even, I remember, as a 22-year-old corporal, we didn't want the change to come because we just didn't want, you know, to allow gays in the military. But in my time, I have to say that every duty station I was at, people started to -- always invite themselves in to particularly asking questions about my personal life and I would start to tell Marines and they were more accepting in the infantry when I was there and from experience and serving 13 years in the Marine Corps, most of them accepted me. In fact I would say 99.9 percent accepted me for who I was.

And if anything, our camaraderie and our unit cohesion has just grown stronger. I'm speaking from firsthand experience, not making anything up. People in my unit going into Iraq knew I was gay. People in Japan (ph) knew I was gay when I served in Japan. People at my unit service knew I was gay.

LEMON: Mr. Alva, let me jump in here. Let me get in here because some military members cited that the recent Pentagon report that did say that some members of the military and the service would leave earlier in gays were allowed to serve openly. What do you think?

ALVA: I always find that interesting because in 2008 when I testified at the Houses Armed Services Committee and Sergeant Major Jones who was a proponent on keeping "don't ask, don't tell" said that they would leave the military. You know, society is changing.

Corporate America is changing from the hotel, car, airline retail industry, people if they can't work with gay people in the military, good luck on finding a job in society because your supervisor, your manager, your cubicle mate, someone you're going to work with is going to be gay because the non-discrimination in the workforce is changing because all people should be who they are and (INAUDIBLE) on merit.

LEMON: All right. Stand by. Stand by. I'm going bring in now Dr. Eric Fisher. He's a psychologist here and has been looking into this issue and discussing it and studying it.

The argument about unit cohesion that would affect the men who are in the trenches, what do you make of that?

DR. ERIC FISHER, PSYCHOLOGIST: There's some validity to it in some ways because we have to be aware that we're all feeling human beings and emotion is a large part of this. Fear is a part of it. And when fear is a motivating factor, fear is about survival.

And the thing with homosexuality in the military, homosexuality is reduced at some levels to religious issue for some. It's a moral issue for others. It's a political issue for some. So there's all these different issues that are affecting it.

And I agree that I think we live in a world that we have to accept who we are as individuals and we live in a country that prides itself on individual liberties and freedoms. We also have to understand that we're still human beings and we still have emotions and we have to look at our emotions --

LEMON: Does fear trump basic human rights especially when you look at the people that use the same argument, and I hate to do this every time, but it's the only one that's closely related or relatable, is when the military was integrated. People said I don't want to be -- blacks are different. We're different people.

FISHER: Right. LEMON: It's the same argument. So does that trump basic human rights, does fear trump that?

FISHER: It does and it doesn't. Because the issue, if you look at it, is that in this world it only takes one person to express their fear on to somebody in a harmful way for this then to become a huge issue. We have to move ahead in our culture. I agree we have to move ahead in our culture and make these changes.

LEMON: What if people use the same argument in the workplace? I mean, I'm sure there are people in my workplace or in -- people around the country, people don't agree with them, people don't agree with their lifestyle, they don't like the football team that they like, they don't like the university. There are a myriad of things that people disagree with, but that doesn't make it right or acceptable. And you wouldn't allow that in the workplace.

FISHER: Exactly. Well, and that's where we have our definitions of what's good, what's strong and what's right in our culture. That's about our culture being very hierarchical and control-based. The need for control is always based in fear. And this is, as I said, a huge fear-based issue.

People who are younger in younger generations, they have grown up in a culture that is more accepting of homosexuals.

LEMON: And wouldn't this be discussed like diversity issues -- you have to take diversity courses as a part of what you're supposed to do, your orientation and the daily literature and message from the company.

FISHER: Right. In this situation any phase-in of this change or repeal needs to come with a great deal of education from the top down and bottom up. There needs to be focus groups. There needs to be many discussions had.

The people who really are going to implement this are going to be the sergeants in a lot of ways who are on the field and on the ground with their troops.

LEMON: Ok. And listen, you have to -- Sergeant Alva, you have to listen to the people who this actually affects and that's going to be the people who are in the trenches. And you were one of them.

I was talking to someone in the Air Force who said, "You know, for me Don, it really doesn't matter because I wasn't in the daily day to day contact with the enemy, so to speak. I was sort of those in a periphery role. But for those guys who are out there in the trenches, I can't answer that question for them. So you would have to listen to them."

ALVA: That's true. I mean, I think as the doctor was saying, it takes one person to have that opposition and people start having that ripple effect and snowball effect that now people start to jump on the band wagon and start to say I won't deal with this. And I think it's going to take some educational training as we do here in San Antonio with the San Antonio Police Department. And we do sensitivity training with the career officer then at the -- the cadets at the academy on, you know, diversity; people orientation and gender identity.

It's something that even the Joint Chiefs of Staff have stated that it's inevitable that "don't ask, don't tell" will be repealed.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Mr. Alva, that's going to have to be the last word. Thank you very much. We've spent a lot of time here and I really appreciate the conversation. Eric Alva and also Eric Fisher here in Atlanta; appreciate it, guys.

Closing the education gap between schools for rich kids and schools for poor kids; singer John Legend has seen both sides and he has strong feelings about how to improve things.

And a simple phone call, well, it could get you some money. See how a rehab center in Indiana has been getting that same call every Christmas for the past two decades. Problem is no one knows who the mystery donor is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN LEGEND, SINGER: Everyone believes that a kid should get a good education, but you have to put your money and your policy where your mouth is. So when you get down to saying, well, not only do I believe every kid deserves a great education, but here's what that means: quality principals, quality teacher, quality superintendents that are accountable for actually delivering on their promises. And when you talk about accountability, then that means, you know, everybody's not going to be protected in that situation.

STEVE PERRY, CNN EDUCATION CONTRIBUTOR: That's some loaded speech right there, man.

LEGEND: The priority is to make sure that the kids have the opportunity to get a great education.

PERRY: Now, you've gotten some flak from that.

LEGEND: Of course I've gotten flak for that.

PERRY: People are not really interested in hearing a singer out there telling about education.

LEGEND: I get flak for that. And I'm not an educator and I know that. And I say this every time I talk about teachers. I truly respect what they do and I don't envy the task that they have.

And like I said, we need to hold this job in high esteem. But when you hold it in high esteem, that means you just don't put anybody in front of 25 kids. You make sure they're doing what they're supposed to be doing. And if they're not doing it well, then they shouldn't be there.

You know, the idea that rich kids get to go to good schools and poor kids don't is so entrenched in our national psyche that we haven't challenge that notion. We have to challenge that notion.

PERRY: Steve Perry, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Mysterious Pete strikes again. For the past 20 years, an unknown man has been giving thousands of dollars to a rehabilitation center in Evansville, Indiana. The gift starts with a phone call always around Christmas and ends with a scavenger hunt.

This story is getting a lot of hits on our Web site right here at cnn.com. And Josh Brezlo (ph) from our affiliate WTVW reports the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOSH BREZLO, REPORTER WTVW: The adventures began in 1990 and almost every year since, a man known simply as Pete has left money hidden around Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center; those adventures always starting with a phone call.

TERRY HAYNIE, EASTER SEALS REHAB CENTER: He says, do you know what time it is. And I go, "It's Pete time."

BREZLO: Over the years a total of 30 donations. His gifts were always creative, left everywhere from inside a plastic candy cane in a tree to a bag hidden at the back of a truck.

Pete's latest contribution came Tuesday, a bag with a Santa cookie jack found next to a dumpster. Inside $3,000 in cash.

HAYNIE: When we got out and find his gifts, it kind of starts our Christmas season out.

BRESLOW: Kaitlin and Emilee Thompson diagnosed with cerebral palsy were the first ever recipients of Pete's donations. $1,500.

VOICES OF KAITLIN AND EMILEE THOMPSON, DIAGNOSED WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: We were able to get a special shower chair that made it easier for my parents to take care of us.

BRESLOW: The mysterious man even inspired the sisters to start a lemonade stand to raise money for Easter Seals.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Pete epitomizes all that's good about the holiday season.

BRESLOW: The gifts also come along with a little something extra, a note simply reading you will hear from me again.

HAYNIE: Well, everybody always says "have you heard from Pete, have you heard from Pete?"

BRESLOW: Those with Easter Seals say they don't know much about their mysterious donor's true identity and for now, they don't want to know.

HAYNIE: The true spirit of giving is when you give anonymously.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: That was Josh Breslow reporting from our affiliate WTVW reporting. OK. So this story has really got you buzzing and posting some comments on Twitter at Don Lemon CNN on Twitter. Here's smartmommom says, "thank you for the link. The world needs more Petes. Very nice story." ProsperInPeace says "That's so sweet. Seems genuine and sincere of him." And onesedonia say "Thanks for sharing the story of hope and giving. There are good news stories out there." Especially at this time of year we need to hear it. The economy's bad, job numbers were terrible, Christmas is coming up.

All right. We want you to be a part of the conversation, as well. Do you give back during the holiday season? If so, what do you do? Make sure you send me a message at Twitter or Facebook and look for me on Foursquare.com, as well. Foursquare.com/donlemoncnn and we'll read some of your comments at the end of the show.

Trapped in a burning car. Seconds away from death. Dramatic video showing the fiery crash and the heroic rescue. Grab a hankie. You'll need it when you hear what the victim's family says to the cop who saved their daughter's life.

And fighting a deadly fire in Israel. Details on the huge aerial weapon the U.S. sent to help battle the flames.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So imagine this, coming face to face with the person who rescued you from near certain death. A Florida woman pulled from a burning car got to say thank you to the man who saved her life. Take a look at this police dash cam video of the fiery cash in Delray Beach.

A 22-year-old named Brianna Motley was trapped inside the burning SUV. The collision and the resulting fire melted the window. That made it impossible for Boca Raton police officer Jimmy Jalil to get Brianna out. So he reached for the one thing he knew would break the glass.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OFC. JIMMY JALIL, BOCA RATON POLICE DEPT.: I didn't want to wait any longer, I didn't want to try to get another tool or anything like that. I knew I had my pistol and I knew that could I use it well.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: So Officer Jalil fired two shots into the rear passenger window to smash it. He then pulled Brianna out and carried her to safety. And looking that the video, Brianna's father says he cannot believe his daughter made it out alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL MOTLEY, BRIANNA MOTLEY'S FATHER: My brother of all people who is a lieutenant colonel in Iraq Googled and found the video and said, "hey, you got to look at this video." And that's when we saw it and I - I don't know how she survived that crash. And like I told Jimmy, Officer Jalil, he's very, very modest, but if it weren't for him, my daughter would be dead. And that's - if you have children, that's a scary thought. And he is forever a part of our family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Brianna suffered a broken leg. The driver was killed and another passenger is hospitalized. Brianna doesn't remember the moments before or directly after the crash, but Officer Jalil says she was alert enough to lift herself up so he could hoist her out of the burning SUV. Amazing story.

A shark attack and now a massive hunt for that beast. The killer shark is still out there lurking off the coast of Egypt. Why experts say something caused the shark to go rogue.

By ground and by air, help arrives for the around the world flight to a deadly wildfire in Israel.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It is time for top stories right here on CNN. Just how bad is this bear cat? The University of Cincinnati mascot was cited for disorderly conduct after pelting the opposing team with snowballs. The school spokesman says he was told to stop but he didn't. They say he pushed a security guard and both of them fell to the ground. The mascot again was cited for disorderly conduct. A backup mascot took over at halftime.

Tiger Woods today came close, but no cigar, to winning his first golf tournament in over a year. He had to skip the tournament last year because of that infamous car accident. Woods lost the Chevron World Challenge in a playoff to reigning U.S. Open champion Gram McDowell. That means Tiger Woods ends 2010 season without a victory. The first time that has happened since he turned pro.

Authorities in Ecuador have downgraded an alert for a spewing volcano known as the throat of fire. Ash and lava gushed a mile into the sky yesterday. Authorities say volcanic activities has now eased off of it but they are keeping a close eye on the rumbling mountain.

Israel says it may finally be gaining the upper hand on a ferocious wildfire that has killed and injured dozens of people and destroyed nearly everything in its path. Some residents barely managed to escape with their lives. And CNN's Paula Hancocks reports from Jerusalem. They're returning home to find nothing left.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has been the worst wildfire in Israel's history and only now are firefighters confident enough to say that they think they are getting this fire under control. We heard from the Israeli prime minister saying that he believed the forces were reaching control over the hills of Kamel (ph) in northern Israel. And also we heard from the police saying that the major sources of fire have been extinguished, but the fire is still burning in certain areas.

Now, it has been a truly international effort as Israel did not have the capability to try and tackle this kind of fire from the air by itself. And now we know that from the United States, there has been a 747 plane that was able to drop around 80,000 liters of water, also large planes from Russia which really seemed to have broken the back of these deadly fires, but of course, it also has sparked questions from insiders as to why Israel has a very strong military capability but yet does not have the capability to stop a fire on its own territory.

Now, the Israeli cabinet was meeting this Sunday morning, a special meeting that it was held just near the affected area and they did approve an aid package of $16 million to try and help those who have been affected and help rebuild those who have lost homes. But the death toll at this point is at least 41 people dead. 17,000 evacuated. Some of those have been able to go back to their homes on Sunday or at least where their homes used to be.

Many are finding that their homes have been completely destroyed. And this is what that aid package is for.

Palestinians also on Sunday announced they were sending extra crews to help in Israel, three more fire engines and we're seeing that in such an incident as a natural disaster, politics really does seem to be taking a back seat. And on the investigation front, two suspects we understand still in custody, still being questioned. It's thought though that the fire may have been started through negligence rather than through arson.

And one bright spot, something that many of the firefighters have been praying for over the past four days. There could be rain this Sunday evening going into Monday morning in northern Israel.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Paula.

You may remember the chilling movie "Jaws." Now a real-life hunt is underway in Egypt's Red Sea for a killer shark. Searchers caught two sharks Friday after three snorkelers were injured in recent attacks. Just today a 70-year-old German woman was fatally attacked by a shark as she snorkeled in the waters off Egypt's Sharm El-Sheik Beach. Her arm and leg were severed. She died from blood loss. A diving expert tells CNN this is not the usual behavior for sharks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOCHEN VEN LYSEBETTENS, RED SEA DIVING COLLEGE: There is no proof of any sharks or group of sharks that are doing the attacks. But personally I believe that it's only one shark that is causing this strange behavior because sharks normally don't behave like this, specifically this shark because it's an open oceanic (INAUDIBLE) and this type of shark lives in the open sea. So they normally don't come to reefs. Something must have triggered his behavior.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Here's what Egyptian authorities are saying. They have closed Sharm El-Sheikh Beach until the shark responsible for today's attack is found.

The burger everybody is back and better than ever. We show you one new burger joint that's offering customers more than fast food dining.

And warming up the holiday tunes. Thousands come together to raise their voices for one common goal. A world record.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: I'm going to give you some ideas right now. You can call it comfort food, call it a classic, the hamburger never really went away, but maybe you've noticed all these new hip burger joints that are popping up everywhere. We decided to hit a few of them. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got the veggie burger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got a regular burger.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got the chicken burger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) grass fed beef burger.

LEMON (on camera): Your burger ate grass?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess the cow ate grass at some point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our ingredients are natural and organic and local.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing is frozen. We don't even have a freezer in the place.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We hand patty. All of our stuff is custom ground.

LEMON: What caused all these burger joints to pop up? It's you, it's Googie Burger, it's Flip Burger?

ERIK MAIER, MANAGING PARTNER, YEAH! BURGER: Really? I think people are sick and tired, I think of the flavorless, dried out frozen patty that's become the norm in fast food. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I never eat fast food.

LEMON: It's like burgers are like chic again. So many of them. You can come and get like so many different kinds.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Burgers are like the new, like hipster food.

BARRY MILLS, FOUNDER & PRES., FLIP BURGER BOUTIQUE: With the economic climate people that we've been in the last couple of years, people wanted to sort of return back to comfort food.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I come to Flip virtually every day of the week.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's an American food. It's what people love to eat. It's an easy food and it has been around forever.

LEMON: Have you noticed all these new like trendy burger joints popping up everywhere?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have. This is my first experience at one though.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I usually smash mine first. That's what I'm doing wrong.

LEMON: It's trendy, right? It's not like you're taking her to a fast food restaurant and she is going to go forget that guy. We call this a date right now.

LEMON: This is what?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a day date.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) for a cheaper date.

MILLS: Yes, they do. I mean, one of the things I kind of like to call this concept is $16 fine dining.

MAIER: Burgers are back, man.

LEMON: Can I have some of your burger? No?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: She was one tough customer. Let me tell you the guys from Yeah! Burger, one of the spots you just saw they joined us in studio and now, we have a lot of carbs to work off. I want you to take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: What caused the resurgence of the burger?

SHAUN DOTY, EXECUTIVE CHEF, YEAH! BURGER: I think it's a combination of obviously the economy, people were looking for something less - the more affordable but also combined with just a return to simplicity. So people, there was so much, with the economy, when it was booming and people were going out and they were spending a lot of money and then I think people came back to reality a little bit and said let's get back to basics. And even as a chef that's what I've done. I mean, I've invested all of my career into creating this concept. I think this is really something that's very sustainable.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: What should people expect to pay for a burger like this? You know, are we talking 20, 30 bucks? Are you talking five bucks?

DOTY: This burger right here our signature burger, double stacked Georgia beef, American cheese on it. 7.50.

JERAS: 7.50.

LEMON: You could go. Because I've gone to restaurants, you get burger on the menu, 20, 25 bucks. This is good.

MAIER: That is actually one of the things that started the whole craze. You know, in New York City they had $30 burger. Not everybody can -

(CROSSTALK)

JERAS: $50 burgers.

LEMON: With the economy on everybody's mind this is a fun thing to do. It's not just Yeah! Burger. There is a bunch of them. So go check them out. They are very healthy. Not supposed to eat with my mouth full. I mean talk with my mouth full. So thank you guys. What caused the resurgence of the burger?

LEMON: Again, thanks to Shaun and Eric from Yeah! Burger.

The telephone, invented 134 years ago and it's finally reached a remote California town. Finally. We'll tell you why a dial tone is music to the ears of residents of this isolated community and thousands of voices raise in song. We'll tell you the reason for this holiday gathering in Boston.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It is time right now to bring you some interesting news items that you might have missed throughout the week. It's called "News You Missed."

Iowa Hill, California has finally entered the 20th century. Never mind it's still a century behind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Iowa Hill Store.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The old mining town, which is just one building along a mountain road halfway between Sacramento and Reno has never had phone service until now. Residents have had cell phones, but this is the first land line. It's going to take a couple of millions of dollars in federal grant money to do that. So far though, about 50 residents have signed up for the newfangled contraptions. The telephones that's attached to the walls. Imagine that.

Another ceiling is being shattered for female members of the U.S. House of Representatives and it's happening under incoming Speaker John Boehner, not the outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Plans are for the 71 female members to get equal bathroom space with a new restroom, adjacent to the House floor. Boehner says it's something that's long overdue, but it won't come cheap though. A source tells Politico the bathroom could cost at least 200,000 bucks.

Christmas seems to get all of the great parody songs, but this year, Hanukkah is getting in on the fun. Check this one out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

LEMON: That's the (INAUDIBLE) they are 14-member a cappella group from Yeshiva University. The song is called "Candle Light" and they have truly hit the big time online, that is. You can watch the entire video, it's on our web site at CNN.com. It's on our belief blog. There are also several other viral holiday videos there that you can watch as well. (INAUDIBLE). Nice.

This time of year, people lift their voices in praise and spirit. Christmas spirit, that is. And thousands came together in Boston to hit the same high holiday notes. Dan Hausle from our affiliate WHDH was there and he captured the harmonious sounds.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN HAUSLE, WHDH, REPORTER: Some came for the carols.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love caroling. I sing. I have my own shows that I do and I also sing with Victorian carolers who will be here in a couple of weeks.

reporter: Some came to enjoy the holiday season.

EDNA THOMPSON, CAROLER: Just be here and enjoy the season. It's part of the festivities.

reporter: And many, like 10-year-old John Reis, came here to break a record.

JOHN REIS, COMPETITIVE CAROLER: It's been my dream to break one world record. I always dreamed about it.

REPORTER (ON CAMERA): and you want your name in the record books?

REIS: Yes.

Reporter: You're only 10, so a lifelong dream for you, it's a big deal.

REIS: Yes.

HAUSLE: John and thousands of others flocked to the (INAUDIBLE) hoping to beat a record of 7,514 people singing Christmas carols for 15 minutes straight. Who better to lead them that Boston pop conductor Keith Lockhart? A guy who leads hundreds of thousands for that little fourth of July sing along.

(on camera): Any key to keeping 7,000 people on key?

KEITH LOCKHART, BOSTON POPS CONDUCTOR: We'll see. I don't think - I suspect there's nothing I can do about it but as long as it's joyous, it doesn't really matter if it's on key.

HAUSLE: I'm not sure if they hit the magic number, but Keith Lockhart says world record or not, he'll consider this event a success.

LOCKHART: The whole point of this is community, to get people out, holding hands, singing Christmas carols. What could be wrong with it?

HAUSLE: In the end, the crowd of a little more than 3,200 fell well short of the record, but everyone seemed to have so much fun. Organizers are already talking about trying again next year.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Very nice story.

Earlier I asked you how you give back during the holidays. Here are a couple of tweets that you sent me. The first is from dawnka. I think it's dawnka. We give gift baskets to children with cancer or to those who lost a parent to cancer. And then Ella Zain says, don't have a lot of money, especially at Christmas, so just try give back being nice and patient. That's good as well.

I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World headquarters in Atlanta. Thank you for your tweets. Thank you for tuning in. "Lennon: Countdown to Murder" is coming up next right here on CNN. See you at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.