Renowned Israeli conductor and pianist Daniel Barenboim has finally been able to visit the West Bank and hold a master class for students.

Barenboim wanted to visit the strife-torn area nearly six months ago, but was refused permission by the Israeli army.

He enchanted an audience of 100 Palestinian students in Ramallah with one of Beethoven's best known works for solo piano, the Moonlight Sonata.

It's extremely important to have him here

Colin South Friends School

The conductor was rapturously received by boys and girls in the hall at the Friends School.

Barenboim, an Argentinian-born Israeli citizen who now lives in Germany, says he wants to promote peace and reduce tensions.

"What I can do is play music, play music for you, and maybe this way, in a very small way... for these few moments, we are able to build down the hatred that is so much in the region," Barenboim said in English.

Barenboim, who is musical director of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the Staatsoper Berlin, said in Arabic: "I am very happy to be here with you."

"I tell them it's very simple," he said. "I'm not a politician, I don't have a plan to end the conflict.

"But I think the lesson we have to learn from the 20th Century is that every human being - small, young as you or older like I - has to think of his responsibility as a human being and not always depend on the politicians and the government."

Nervous students took the opportunity to play for the musical legend in their midst, and admitted politics got in the way of their music.

"I've been playing the piano for six years. I was meant to start my seventh year at the conservatory - but because of the curfew, I couldn't sit my exams and my seventh year has now been delayed," said Celine Khoury, 15, who played a waltz by Frederic Chopin.

Colin South, director of the Friends School, welcomed the arrival of Barenboim.

"It's extremely important to have him here," South said.

Young musicians told of difficulties

"Anybody of this calibre who can come to the West Bank and play for us and be with us right now is just incredibly encouraging - and we're very grateful for him being here."

Barenboim has flirted with controversy on numerous occasions, not least by playing Wagner - a composer venerated by the Nazis - in Israel.

The conductor, as well as the Palestinian writer and critic Edward Said were honoured for their efforts at reconciliation in the region with Spain's Prince of Asturias Concord Prize.

For the last decade, the pair have organised summer workshops for young Arab and Israeli musicians in Europe and the US.