Egypt and Jordan, Muslim countries which have diplomatic relations with Israel, probably will snub an innovative international conference to be hosted next week by President Shimon Peres. At least four presidents, along with senior officials from Central Europe and Africa and hundreds of leading academics and businessmen, will attend the three-day event. The Palestinian Authority also has been invited but has rejected the invitation. Arab nations instead are marking Israel's 60th anniversary as "Nakba Day," Arabic for "catastrophe."

Among the 700 guests to participate in the event are Google's Sergey Brin, Terry Semel of Yahoo and newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch.