DOHA (AFP) - Israeli's deputy prime minister Shimon Peres has held talks with the emir of Qatar, during a rare visit by a high-ranking official of the Jewish state to the emirate.

The meeting with Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani was also attended by Qatar's state minister for foreign affairs, Ahmad Abdullah al-Mahmud, QNA official news agency reported, without giving details of the discussions.

Peres arrived in Doha Monday to take part in a debate on the Middle East with students. He was expected to "put forward the Israeli position in front of 300 students," Sharon Kravicky, the spokeswoman of the veteran Israeli leader said.

The debate is an initiative by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Development.

Like most Arab countries, Qatar does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, but the Jewish state has a commercial interests office manned by two diplomats in Doha, and representatives of both countries also meet on a regular basis.

Peres visited Qatar as a prime minister in 1996.