The pop star Shakira has expressed hope that the world "can act as a team" to educate future generations while at a conference in Jerusalem.

The Colombian musician, who launched an education charity in 1997, was speaking to some of the 1,700 guests at the third annual Presidential Conference. She said the Holy Land was the "perfect place to talk about how urgent it is to invest in education."

She said it would be "wonderful" if the world could work together on solving its many challenges and problems.

"This is the time to behave like a team, to wear the same T-shirts and to win the match of discrimination, to win the match of inequality and segregation."

The singer, 34, also spent time at the Max Payne school in Jerusalem where both Israeli and Arab pupils are taught, and visited the Western Wall.

Shakira, whose father is Lebanese, told the Associated Press that she had respect and "great affection" for Israel and for both the Israelis and Palestinians.

"That's why I'm here," she said. "I think that kids need us - kids don't understand about conflicts.

"The road to peace has to be traveled hand in hand with education because that is the only way perhaps that we are going to achieve global stability and peace."