In hard-hitting comments, EU External Relations Commissioner Chris Patten said the new-found US support for unilateral Israeli measures risked sidelining moderate Palestinians and inflaming Arab opinion.

But Patten welcomed a reaffirmation by US President George W. Bush Friday, after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, that a settlement could only be reached through negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

"That's not entirely what was coming out of Washington earlier in the week," he told reporters as EU foreign ministers concluded a two-day informal meeting in central Ireland.

"I think what is worrying is that first of all, an awful lot of Palestinians will have taken the view as a result of this week that their aspirations for a two-state solution have been knocked on the head," he said.

"That's not very good if you want to encourage moderation in the Palestinian community.