Tight security at the discussion, which was scheduled to start at 8 p.m., led the event moderated by historian Enrique Krauze to start about 40 minutes late.
In front of an audience of about 500, Peres and Gonzalez discussed democracy, nationalism, fanaticism, religion and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Gonzalez said peace in Israel could not be reached through the construction of a wall in the West Bank and that the international community must encourage Israel and Palestine to sit down and negotiate.
Peres pointed out that reaching peace would remain complicated so long as Palestinians are divided.
“I am 90 years old, and when I look back I see that we reached peace with Egypt and Jordan, which seemed unreachable. Now we have an opportunity to reach it with Palestine,” said Peres, according to a FIL news release. “We are in negotiations and I can see important changes in the Arab world: when we began the Arab League it was completely hostile, whereas now they have presented their own proposal for peace. Yet it is still difficult.”
Before the international book fair began, about 40 people gathered at the Minerva Fountain Friday morning to protest the presence of Israel as the invited country.
The event continues through December 8. Check out www.fil.com.mx for a full schedule of events, book presentations and information. The fair is in its 27th year and attracts readers of all ages and from all corners of the globe.
