The BelTel

The Israelis and Palestinians are two very distinct peoples, but geographically, Israel and Palestine are one and the same territories. How did this come about and is there any hope for the future? Martin Bunton is the author of The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Very Short Introduction – he spoke to Ciarán Dunbar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

50 years ago this week, Mountjoy Prison played host to one of the most dramatic escapes in history. It was a Halloween horror show for the onlooking guards as prominent Provisional IRA figures took to the sky. Host: Kevin Doyle. Guest: Liam Collins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Islandmagee is a quiet civil parish on the east coast of Northern Ireland. But in 1711, a newcomer to the area begins to have fits, regurgitates pins and buttons, and suddenly dies. In the weeks following her death, eight woman and one man are found guilty of witchcraft at a local Courthouse – one man is executed. It was the last witchcraft trial in Ireland. Olivia Peden speaks to Dr Andrew Sneddon of Ulster University, and Martina Devlin, the author of “The House where it happened” about this mysterious event.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Belfast-born John Bew is Rishi Sunak’s global policy advisor. He’s the key voice informing the PM’s foreign policy and has been seen in close consultation with him in recent weeks. The historian, a son of crossbench peer Lord Paul Bew, is now one of the most influential men at Downing Street. Belfast Telegraph reporter Andrew Madden joins Ciáran Dunbar to profile him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With war raging in the Middle East and Europe, we ask; have the lessons of the 20th century been forgotten? What are the rules of engagement for modern warfare? and who can we trust to enforce them?Host: Kevin Doyle Guest: Declan PowerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A fifty-seven-year-old man is currently on trial in Belfast’s Crown Court accused of murdering two catholic men. James Smyth from Forthriver Link, north Belfast, has denied murdering Gary Convie (24) and Eamonn Fox (41) in a gun attack in May 1994. UVF ‘Supergrass’ Gary Haggarty, who last seen in public in 2009, is giving evidence . Ciáran Dunbar joins Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent, Allison Morris, who has been following the trial.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fake news seems to be everywhere online lately - but what exactly is it? Why do people spread it and can anything be done about it. Professor Julian McDougall joins Ciáran Dunbar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mitchell’s farm was the base of the ‘Glenanne Gang’, a mix of loyalist paramilitaries and rogue members of the security forces. The ‘Glenanne Gang’ were responsible for up 120 murders including the Dublin Monaghan bombings, the Miami Showband massacre, and scores of other sectarian killings. Martin Breen has had a run in with Mitchell, he explains what happened. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the height of the Troubles, the security forces found a new and unusual tactic in their fight against the IRA – ‘black magic’. How did this come about – and did people actually believe it? Richard Jenkins, author of ‘Black Magic and Bogeymen’ joins Ciáran Dunbar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and Belfast Telegraph columnist Malachi O’Doherty’s book ‘How to fix Northern Ireland’. It’s his take on what’s wrong and what has to be done. He spoke to Ciarán Dunbar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.