Erstellt am: 12. 10. 2011 - 16:17 Uhr

A rare united celebration in Israel and Gaza

Reality Check: Shalit release deal, Turkey and the West, Burma prisoner amnesty, Wall Street protests, "Hexenkind"

Gilad Shalit, the 19 year old Israeli soldier who was kidnapped from his post on the Israeli side of the border with Gaza in 2005 and has been held by Hamas ever since, will be home within a few days.

After dozens of negotiation attempts and numerous international appeals, a deal has finally been struck between Israel and Hamas for his release - in return for just over 1.000 Palestinian prisoners, and there is much celebrating on both sides.

Not everyone is pleased at the deal. Families of Israelis killed by Hamas militants are angry at the release of Palestinians they say are guilty of murder, and there is widespread concern that the deal will lead to further kidnappings. But the dissenters are in the minority.

1.000 for 1 looks like a pretty good deal for Hamas, although Israel is saying it drove a hard bargain. The influential Israeli newspaper, Haaretz is highlighting only the 479 prisoners being released in the first wave, and the conditions attached. Only scant mension is given to the further 520 prisoners to be released in 2 months time.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says the deal had been under negotiation for several months, and there had been huge popular pressure for him to find a way to get Shalit released - including protesters camped outside his house. The euphoria in the wake of the deal will give him a much needed boost at home at a time when he has been coming under cricisism the state of the economy.

The timing may be working well for Hamas, as well. They have been out of the spotlight recently as Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, of their rival Fatah party took centre stage at the United Nations, pushing for Palestinian statehood. The prisoner release deal give Hamas a positive boost in the minds of Palestinians who may have been starting to side with Abbas.

Our correspondent in Jerusalem, Iris Makkler, told Steve Crilley about the atmosphere around the announcement.

I can't remember another event that has caused equal levels of popular celebration in Israel and the Palestinian Territory. It remains to be seen what the longer term political fallout will be - but if they can strike a deal on this, maybe it's a sign of things to come.

Turkey and the EU

With the EU plunging ever deeper into financial crisis, and ties with the Arab world improving, it Turkey deciding it doesn't want to join the EU after all?

Burma prisoner releases

The government in Burma goes ahead with its promise to grant amnesty to over 6.000 political prisoners. Our Burma correspondent, Tony Cheng, told Riem Higazi about the significance of this move.

Occupy Wall Street

Our New York correspondent Nathan King updates Steve Crilley on the latest news from the protests.

"Hexenkind"

Joana Adesuwa Reiterer talks to Riem Higazi about her new book "Hexenkind"

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12 to 14, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.