European Union's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. Photo: wiki commons.

JPost – Italy and the Netherlands toned down a statement on the Middle East by EU foreign ministers Monday that, even with their intervention, sharply criticized Israel and settlement violence.

According to western diplomats, the two countries – led this time by Italy – moderated some of the language in the three page “Conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process” that emerged following a monthly meeting in Brussels. They also made sure that certain elements favorable to Israel, such as references to Palestinian incitement and Israel’s security needs, were inserted.

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