Web users comment on Gilad Shalit possible liberation

In today's edition: Net users comment on the possible liberation of French-Israeli Gilad Shalit ; Swiss web users get mobilised for the coming referendum anti-minarets in the country ; and the Muppet Show puppets sing Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.

WEB NEWS

By Electron Libre

GILAD SHALIT SOON TO BE FREED?

Captured by Hamas in June 2006, Franco-Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit is currently the subject of intense wrangling between Israel and the Islamist movement. Rumours suggest that he could be about to be released in exchange for one thousand Palestinian prisoners.

News welcomed by many net users, who have been mobilised in recent months in his favour. On the occasion of his birthday on August twenty eight, http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=114389898259&ref=nf#/photo_search.... ">an online campaign was launched to call for his release. In this video, young Israelis urged net users to join the ‘Gilad’s army of friends’ and to express their support via the web.

Others chose to pay a musical tribute to him, like here.

But this Israeli blogger feels that the price to be paid for Gilad’s release is too high. Negotiating with what he considers to be terrorists, amounts to making pacts with the devil in his eyes.

This female blogger was divided about the exchange. Although as the mother of a soldier, she was delighted to hear about Gilad Shalit’s possible release, she does not want her Government to release men who represent a threat to Israel in her opinion.

According to rumours, the former Fatah leader, Marwan Barghouti could be part of the agreement. Something deemed unlikely by this Middle East expert.

SWITZERLAND: ANTI-MINARET REFERENDUM

On Sunday November 29, Swiss citizens will vote by referendum, for or against building minarets in the country. And with the approach of the vote, supporters and detractors are clashing online in defence of their positions.

The movement, ‘Stop Minaret’, supported by members of the populist and evangelical right wing parties, is particularly active on line. On its site, the movement claims its aim is to preserve religious peace in the country through the initiative and that it is against islamophobia.

However, the movement has just posted this somewhat tactless game online. Players must prevent the construction of minarets, which they are in fact unable to do, and Switzerland is eventually overrun by the monuments.

Supporters of the initiative are not the only ones voicing their opinions. This site calls on Swiss citizens to show tolerance and open mindedness. It broadcasts this zany video, which denounces an initiative it judges as xenophobic.

Meanwhile this blogger recalls that Swiss churches have warned citizens against a potentially dangerous referendum for the country’s stability and have openly called for a vote against the ban and increased dialogue between religions.

BANK ROBBERY NOTES

If you are planning to carry out an armed attack in the foreseeable future or if you were simply wondering what thieves say to bank staff during hold ups, then this site should be of some help. ‘Bank Notes’ provides a whole host of phrases uttered by robbers during hold ups, including well-known classics such as, ‘Hand over the money and no-one will get hurt’, and more original phrases such as, ‘This is a hold up, let’s start with the big notes’.

BE A MARTIAN

NASA has just launched an interactive site to allow net users to explore the red planet. ‘Be a Martian’ invites users to help researchers in their endeavours by improving maps of Mars amongst other things. Net users can, for example, count the number of craters on Mars, a gargantuan task, given their number. The site also contains thousands of photos of the red planet including a large number which have never been previously published.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Famous American Muppet Show puppets love music and Queen in particular. They have produced their very own cover of one of the most popular songs by the British band: Bohemian Rhapsody. A totally crazy version which is sure to amuse music lovers.