A summary of this event by Al Bawaba...

"On January 30th in an unusual visit, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres was in the city of Doha in the highest-level visit of an Israeli to the Gulf region in more than ten years.

Peres is to spend two days in the Qatari capital, where he will appear on "Doha Debates," a BBC television debate show overseen by Qatar's first lady, Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, to which he was invited to participate in.

He will reportedly answer "tough and controversial questions" from 300 Arab students, according to the AP. He is expected to answer questions on the state of the peace process with the Palestinians, the potential for prisoner exchanges, Israel's recent war with Lebanon, and the region's nuclear issues. He reportedly also plans to speak at the Doha campus of Georgetown University.

Peres will not meet with any Qatari officials on the trip, as it is not an official diplomatic visit. However, he is expected to have opportunities to talk with leaders in attendance during the filming of the television show, scheduled for Tuesday evening. Peres was also the last major Israeli official to travel to any Gulf Arab country when he visited Qatar in 1996 when he served as Israel's prime minister.

Though none of the six Gulf Arab countries have political relations with Israel, Qatar maintains low-level ties with the Israel and houses am Israeli trade mission in Doha."

http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Qatar/209053

Shimon Peres born on August 2, 1923 in Poland, and immigrated with his family to the land that would later become Israel in 1934), is an Israeli politician, former Prime Minister and current Vice Premier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimon_Peres

Great post!

It's about time the Gulf states started exerting political pressure on Israel (and America) to negotiate. I've always been pissed off by the way the Gulf governments encourage a domestic anti-Israel rhetoric (which at times is often anti-semitic) - in part to appease the more radical sections of the public - but make no real attempt to exert political influence on America or Israel to negotiate with the Palestinians.

It's nice to see an Israeli politician being put on the spot, but he doesn't look uncomfortable, and I don't really hear anything new. We've heard the same rhetoric before - and he shows no signs of compromising on the important issues. Settlements were removed because they were too costly to defend - not as a gesture of peace towards the Palestinians. Furthermore it is perfectly clear that they intend to steal further land for settlements in areas which are cheaper to defend. He makes no apologies for the illegal apartheid wall and again, as always, there is no possibility of any kind of joint control of Jerusalem. "Israel never initiated...Israel always just reacted" - this is completely untrue. Israel initiated the murder and expulsion of Palestinians in 1948. Furthermore, if violence stops Israel will still not negotiate on the key issues - like Jerusalem and the right of return. Israel did not simply attack Hezbollah, they collectively punished the Lebanese people - and for this he makes no apology. "I'm not making any account with the past" - again, Israel refers to past injustices committed against the Jewish people and Israel to justify its actions, but will never accept that Palestinian actions are a direct result of past injustices committed against them by Israel. How has Israel forgiven and forgotten?

Yes, part of what came off to me was Shimon Peres dodging and arguing an Israel position without really addressing the transgressions of the past, nor is there any compromise on the most tenacious issues of the settlement deals between Israel and Palestine.

If you click the video to go to it's YouTube link, the original poster titled it Shimon Peres: Lying for Zionism, just an FYI about how the extremist position sees this.

Still am glad at least the dialogue is taking place. Am also impressed by the Doha students, it gives me much hope.

yep. good post. is this from this year?

man, I have to watch this stuff in short bursts to stop myself from getting mad at Peres.

Yes this was this year aidos.

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