Israeli president posts peace song on Web site

There's a new songwriter in cyberspace: Israeli President Shimon Peres. And composers from countries including Iran are writing music for the lyrics to his song, "Ray of Hope."

Aide Yoram Dori said Wednesday that Peres, 84, wrote the song a year ago. It's about his favorite theme, peace.

Peres won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. He became president, a largely ceremonial post, last year after a long career in politics.

Peres posted his lyrics on Songweavers.com, a site that connects lyricists, composers and musicians. Among the dozens who wrote music for his song was Sadri Ghandehari, whose Web page says he lives in the Iranian capital Tehran. Israel and Iran are bitter enemies.

"Ray of Hope" includes the lines, "Provide my foe and friend a bloodless day. Invite boys and girls for peace to pray."

Composers put the poem to music in many different styles, including alternative rock, spiritual, folk rock, gospel and blues. The composers come from Israel, Turkey, Canada, Germany, Spain, Holland, England and the United States, as well as Iran.

Dori told The Associated Press the international attention to Peres' song on the Web site shows that "music crosses borders, and it's an exceptional tool for good will among people."

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On the Net:

http://www.songweavers.com