Shimon Peres ‘likes’ Facebook

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg welcomes the 88-year-old Israeli president and kicks off his page for peace

MENLO PARK, California (AP) — Israeli President Shimon Peres said Tuesday during a tour of Facebook that the social networking site offers people a way to bypass the failed efforts of governments and seek peace across national boundaries on their own.

The 88-year-old leader visited the Silicon Valley headquarters as part of a regional swing to promote Israel’s tech industry. In an interview with Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg streamed live on the company’s website, Peres repeatedly praised Facebook as a tool for positive social change by enabling citizens of different countries to connect.

Responding to a question about Iran’s nuclear program, Peres said he had nothing against the Iranian people but condemned its government as a seat of “moral corruption.”

A screen capture of Shimon Peres's new Facebook page.

Peres was also scheduled to meet with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and launch his official page on the site aimed at creating a dialogue with young Arabs who live in countries that do not have diplomatic ties with Israel.

“The President will call on them to talk with him, to ask questions and to offer ideas to advance peace between peoples, not just between governments,” Peres’ staff said in a statement.

The visit comes as part of Peres’ four-day swing through Silicon Valley. Touring top tech companies has become a rite of passage for politicians and celebrities passing through the region.

In addition to Facebook, Peres’ California itinerary includes meetings with leading venture capitalists and Google co-founder Sergey Brin in hopes of forging stronger ties with Israel’s tech industry.

President Barack Obama became the first sitting head of state to visit Facebook’s headquarters when he came last year for a town hall meeting and interview led by Zuckerberg.

In September, Sandberg moderated a discussion at Facebook with leading Republicans. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan talked taxes and jobs while taking questions from the audience and online members.