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With Israel being a certain talking point on the agenda in December's Foreign Affairs Council, Catherine Ashton, the EC Vice President was under some pressure to adopt a hardline approach with Israel. Last week having been asked by a group of former EU leaders, including Javier Solana, and further encouraged by ministers such as Luxembourg's Jean Asselborn to begin adopting a tougher position in negotiations, Madame Ashton has to strike a balance between increasing fruitful negotiations, and alienating a close partner of the EU.

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