World leaders are expressing concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East, while the European Union says U.S. efforts to end the crisis there have failed. 

In Brussels Wednesday, E.U. Commission President Romano Prodi called for multi-lateral mediation efforts. 

One thing E.U. foreign ministers were expected to discuss at a special meeting Wednesday is a plan for E.U. negotiators to be involved in Mideast peace talks. 

The European Union, which is the largest aid donor to the Palestinians, has long sought to play a greater role in Mideast peace efforts. But Washington and Israel have traditionally opposed such calls, with Israel saying some European governments are too pro-Arab to negotiate a peace deal fairly. 

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Israel to show restraint in its military operations. 

The Vatican issued a strongly-worded statement condemning terrorism and Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. The Holy See also appealed for the protection of religiously significant sites. 

In New York, the United Nations Security Council is discussing the Mideast crisis. Palestinian representative Nasser Al-Kidwa has called for the immediate enforcement of a U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for Israeli troops to immediately pull out of Palestinian towns in the West Bank. 

Israel's U.N. Ambassador has said his government will withdraw its forces once there is a ceasefire. 

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