Erstellt am: 22. 11. 2012 - 15:07 Uhr

"The big winners are Egypt and Hamas"

Reality Check: Gaza truce, Guy Delisle, DR Congo, EU Budget, Strasshof Concentration Camp

Although many people were cautious yesterday, it seems a truce deal has been hammered out between Hamas and the Israelis.

The details are unclear, but it it seems that Israel will, at least to some extent, lift the blockade on Gaza to allow humanitarian supplies in, and to allow some freedom of movement for the Gazan people.

Gazans are seeing this as a triumph for Hamas, who negotiated the deal through Egyptian mediation. The Egyptians, and particularly President Morsi, are being seen as the heroes of the crisis, having pulled off what appeared to be a near impossible task. The international recognition they are getting for this is also extremely significant, perhaps most importantly, the praise and support being voiced by the United States, who now seem to be aligning with Egypt instead of their usual imovable stance behind Israel.

Over in the West Bank, however, things are looking bleak for Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas. While the Palestinian Authority, led by Abbas, is the formally recognised representation of the Palestinian people, and Hamas is labelled a terrorist organisation, it is Hamas that have succeeded in moving the situation on, and not Fatah. Fatah have renounced violence, and have stuck to it. Hamas have been firing rockets as fast as they can. So why has Israel stopped short of pulverising Gaza as they have done in the past?

According to Rosemary Hollis the deal is both a sign of Egypt's influence, and that the Israelis recognise that Hamas are moderates compared to some of the groups that might aspire to take over if Hamas were destroyed.

Guy Delisle

One of the world's most well known graphic novelists talks about his work and his take on Jerusalem as portrayed in his latest book.

DR Congo conflict

The M23 rebels, who they are, what they want and their chances of succeeding.

Strasshof concentration camp

Joanna King reports on the little known concentration camp close to Vienna, that is the subject of a new book by ORF journalist Irene Suchy.

EU Budget preview

Franz Fischler, the president of the European Forum Alpbach, and former EU commissioner for Agriculture talks to Joanna Bostock about the importance of the EU reaching agreement on the budget at the summit starting this evening in Brussels, even if it turns into a "three shirter".

FM4 Reality Check

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