EU backs Obama's call for Mideast peace treaty based on 1967 borders

European Union ministers said on Monday that they will support President Barack Obama's call for a peace treaty between Israel and Palestinians based on the 1967 borders.

The EU ministers took a stand on the sidelines of a regular monthly meeting.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday that EU has had a similar position on the peace talks--that it should be based on the 1967 lines, with land swaps.

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt says that on some of the key issues Obama was very much on the European line.

He also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of the '67 borders as indefensible. Bildt said that the only defense that is possible is peace.

In Israel’s sharp rebuke to it closest ally, Netanyahu told Obama his demand for Israel to go back to the 1967 boundaries – the big land concessions – will leave Israel indefensible.

Netanyahu had later said that his disagreement with Obama was blown out of proportion.

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