Erstellt am: 15. 2. 2012 - 15:15 Uhr

A faint new hope for the Middle East?

Reality Check: How one hunger striker could change the Middle East, BZÖ and Telekom Austria, Golan Heights and Syria, US elections and contraception, Saudi blogger.

A Palestinian hunger striker could change the game for Israel

In December, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, Khader Adnan, was taken into "administrative detention" in Israel - which essentially means he is being held without charge or trial.

He immediately went on hunger strike, and now, 2 months later, his life is at seriously at risk.

While Israel has no hesitation in hitting back against bombs, they seem at a loss as to what to do about peaceful protests. Regional analyst, Matt Rees, reports from Jerusalem on the hunger strike that could change the Middle East narrative.

Contraception a hot topic in the US elections

President Obama's health insurance plans anger Republicans because they offer birth control to women. Conservatives and catholic organisations were furious that Obama's health care bill required employers to offer contraception to their employees as a part of their health plans. Obama then backed down and changed the wording to say that only the insurance companies had to offer birth control, not the employers themselves. Nevertheless, the issue has become one of the hot debates as Republicans start to sharpen their weapons against the Democrats ahead of November's presidential election.

BZÖ and Austria Telekom

The parliamentary enquiry into alleged corruption is hearing more testimony about flows of money to the BZÖ from Telekom Austria.

Yesterday the panel heard that bills for advertising campaigns for the BZÖ were paid directly by Telekom.

Today former justice minister Karin Gastinger is facing questions about claims that her election campaign in 2006 was also financially supported by Telekom.

Profil journalist Eva Linsinger told Joanna Bostock it's not illegal for a political party to receive money from such sources

Syria and the Golan Heights

As violence continues in Syria with no sign of a solution in sight, there is concern in some quarters that UN intervention may eventually be necessary. With Austrian troops stationed in the Golan Heights between Syria and Israel, some people are asking whether they could be dragged into any hostilities. Security analyst Paul Rogers looks at the likely future course of events in the area.

Dangerous tweets

Riem Higazi reports on the Saudi journalist and blogger who could face execution for his outspoken tweets.

FM4 Reality Check

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