By GREER FAY CASHMANperes youtube 248 88 ap(photo credit: AP)
Pope Benedict XVI has done it, US President Barack Obama has done it, Queen Rania of Jordan has done it - and now President Shimon Peres will do it.
Anyone who wants to make an impact these days uses YouTube as a vehicle, so on Tuesday morning Peres officially launched his own YouTube platform, together with YouTube cofounder and Chief Executive Officer Chad Hurley, who was here especially for the occasion.
It will not come as a surprise to any Peres watcher that the initial broadcast by the president will be peace-oriented.
Directed at citizens of the world, it will invite them to take part in the president's work for peace and to express their opinions on anything related to the advancement of peace in the Middle East and the world at large. This includes reconciliation between nations and religions with the help of modern technology for the overall benefit of humankind.
The video broadcast will include clips of the president's speeches and activities, special Hanukka and Christmas messages as well as greetings of peace to the global Muslim community.
Peres plans to turn his YouTube site into a web of dialogue in which he will answer questions that will be directed to him from viewers around the world. Beit Hanassi also plans to utilize the site for virtual media conferences that the president will conduct from time to time.
Surfers will not be restricted to asking questions that pertain to Israel and the region. Peres will be just as happy to answer questions about issues on the global agenda.
The site will also serve as a platform for Israel's public diplomacy.