Shalom, Michael Jackson

By Stephen M. Silverman

09/10/1997 at 12:00 AM EDT

Two global leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, 73, and pop star Michael Jackson, 42, met in New York just before the Israeli head of state left the city at the end of a three-day visit (that included a meeting with President Bush), reports Reuters. The face-to-glove meeting was private and included Jackson's friend, Israeli-born psychic Uri Geller. "He said he is a big fan of Israel," Sharon told reporters aboard his return flight back to Tel Aviv. Asked whether or not he recognized Jackson, the Israeli commander in chief replied with mock-indignation, "What? Am I not aware of modern music?"