Despite all the obstacles, the European Union will do what it can to bring Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table, EU foreign-policy chief Javier Solana has told leaders in Jerusalem and Ramallah. It is time to end the 39 years of Israeli control of the Palestinian territories and to allow both people to live in peace, he said at the end of a week in the region. The Europeans feel they are in a stronger position than they have been for some time to try to broker a peace deal, said an analyst at The Media Line. With cash aid getting into the region and European soldiers positioned close to Israel’s northern border as part of the UNIFIL force, Brussels feels it has some leverage over both parties right now.