The long wait was caused by the heavy securityprecautions. Guards instructed visitors to removeall metal objects, keys and belt clasps from theirpersons before they passed through one of twoairport-style security portals.

Security frisked several visitors, including atleast one reporter, with hand-held metaldetectors.

After the tense entry and a long wait forPeres, whose talk began late, laughter throughoutthe event appeared to diffuse the tension.

In response to a student's wondering whetherthere was a possibility for jointIsraeli-Palestinian control over East Jerusalem,Peres was concise, if simplistic.

"Religiously, yes," he said. "Politically, no,"he added, immediately motioning for the nextquestion amid smiles from the audience.

In a response to a later question, Peresoffered a more complete account of what mighthappen to Jerusalem.

"In the whole history of the Arab domination,Jerusalem never became a capital of Arab life,"Peres said. "On the other hand, in Jewish life, wenever have had any capital but Jerusalem."

Peres said he would like to see the politics ofthe Middle East be a more open process.

Describing his dream for the future, Peressaid, "Nowadays, in the Middle East, we handshakein the day any negotiate at night."

"If it were the other way, I would feel thatmay dream was fulfilled," he said to laughter.

Another off-the-cuff Peres remark elicitedoutright guffaws from audience members.

One student asked if he would be able to visitthe Golan Heights, an area in northern Israeldisputed by Syria and Israel, in the near future.

"Your look [like you're] in pretty goodshape--why not?" Peres replied.

Not all of the dialogue was humorous, however.

Masood A. Razaq '96, who is half Pakistani andhalf German, asked about the more than 50 UnitedNations resolutions that Israel has disregardedsince it became a state in 1948.