Shakira in Israel to promote education platform

JERUSALEM Shakira kicked off Israel's third annual President's Conference on Tuesday with a plea for children's education worldwide. She said the Holy Land was the "perfect place to talk about how urgent it is to invest in education."

Shakira, 34, was born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll in Colombia. She is of Lebanese heritage.

Shakira, whose hits include "Hips Don't Lie," "Whenever, Wherever," and "Waka, Waka," has established a number of charitable foundations dedicated toward advancing education.

She began her comments alongside Israeli President Shimon Peres with a single "shalom" -- Hebrew for hello and peace.