US or Israeli goal. "We are against the policies of Israel, not against Israel itself," Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Moussa said during a visit to Brasilia last month to plan the gathering. "The meeting isn't against anyone." On a visit to Brasilia on Monday, Israeli Vice Defense Minister Zeev Boim told Brazilian officials the Middle East peace process needed support, rather than criticism. An informal request by Washington to observe the summit was turned down. Brazil's foreign ministry told the Americans the meeting was public and they could watch it on television. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in Brazil last week, said the "message" the summit sent was important to reform in the Arab world and progress in a U.S.-devised "road map" for Palestinian statehood. Brazil has said the summit was motivated by Arab-South American ties dating back over 500 years. Some of the first sailors to land in the Americas off Spanish ships were exiled Moors. --More 2355 Local Time 2055 GMT
