Following recent interviews and visits from President Obama and other esteemed politicians, Facebook continues its perpetual evolution by further delving into the political arena. Increasingly, the social media site has connected both local and national political figures with their constituents, as well as providing specific issues a forum to garner interest. With this in mind, Israeli President Shimon Peres has created an official bilingual Facebook page with the intent of connecting citizens of the world in a quest for peace.
“Launching a Facebook page for the president is an extremely important move to strengthening the ties between the president and the broad public throughout the globe,” stated the Director General of the President’s Residence Efrat Duvdevani, “and it will form a platform to promote President Peres’ vision of peace while offering positive exposure for the State of Israel.” Ynet News reports that Peres’ page will initiate an avenue of communication specifically between residents of countries that Israel has not held diplomatic relations with, thus enabling dialog that helps bring people, rather than just governments, closer.
To launch the page, President Peres visited Facebook headquarters earlier today and tour a number of tech companies, including Google, which has opened Research and Development Centers in Israel. Additionally, Peres met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and took part in an interview with Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg which was streamed via the company’s own live video service Facebook Live, allowing viewers to pose questions to the Israeli leader.
So how did President Peres launch his facebook page? With a music video of course! In a collaboration that could only happen in Israel, President Peres teamed up with Noy Alooshe, the Israeli journalist and musician made famous for his Moammar Gadafi parody, “Zenga Zenga.” The resulting video, “Be My Friend For Peace” was put up on YouTube over the weekend and is already causing a sensation (see below).
In his first Facebook post, Israel’s president wrote: “I have dedicated most of my life to make peace between countries and governments. Today I invite people from all around the world, from Europe, U.S.A, India, Latin America, Asia, Africa and specifically Iran, Lybia, Syria, and Egypt to join me and promote peace between the people.” He added, “Facebook empowers us. So let’s dare to believe, start to change our world and create a better tomorrow.”
Peres has also announced plans to launch ‘Peres 360?, which will utilize Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on YouTube to broadcast a ‘day in the life’ account of the Israeli leader. With all of these social media tools in hand, Peres hopes that by connecting the passion of people around the world, citizens will enable his dream of peace to become a reality.
Make sure to “Like” President Peres on Facebook, and more importantly, share his message of peace.
Click To View Video
Composer Noy Aloosh
Director Noam Vardi
Art Director Yael Grego
Initiated, produced and delivered by Megaphone Digital Ron Shely and Golan Bar Shalom
לעמוד הבינ"ל - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shimon-Peres/240142419406136
לעמוד הישראלי - http://www.facebook.com/PresidentPeres
