The United States is planning to join a group noted for its anti-Israel stances, the Alliance of Civilizations. The group was established with the support of the UN five years ago, with the intent of bringing greater understanding between Islam and the West. The Bush administration boycotted the group when it was established in 2005, out of fear that it would be used to advance anti-Western agendas – a fear that subsequently came true a year later, when it issued a report blaming Israel and the U.S. for most of the world's problems.
Until now, the U.S. had been the only G-20 country that was not a member. American officials said that the decision to join was made after the current head of the group, former Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio, said that it would attempt to have a “more positive” view of Israel.