EJP

At EU headquarters for first time, Israel’s PM Netanyahu urges EU member states to follow US in recognizing Jerusalem as capital of Israel

BRUSSELS —Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who paid his first ever visit to the European Union headquarters in Brussels, urged EU member states to follow the U.S.’s lead and move their embassies to Jerusalem. The Czech Republic and Hungary have already announced their intention to make such a move.

Netanyahu discussed US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and chances to relaunch the peace process with the Palestinians with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and with the 28 EU Foreign Ministers during an informal breakfast. A scheduled meeting with European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker was cancelled due to bad weather in Brussels.

Mogherini has joined many European leaders in expressing disapproval of the U.S. decision. At a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Monday, she said that “the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states with Jerusalem as the capital of both.”

But Netanyahu insisted that on the contrary the US recognition of Jerusalem makes peace possible and said that what Trump did was to “put facts squarely on the table. Peace is based on reality.”

He said the reality of seeing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital “doesn’t obviate peace, it makes peace possible.”

“There is now an effort to bring forward a new peace proposal by the American administration. I think we should give peace a chance. I think we should see what is presented and see if we can advance this peace,” Netanyahu said.

He urged the members of the European Union to follow in the U.S.’s footsteps.

“It’s time that the Palestinians recognize the Jewish state and also recognize the fact that it has a capital. It’s called Jerusalem,” he told reporters ahead of his meeting with Mogherini.

“I believe that, even though we don’t have an agreement yet, this is what will happen in the future. I believe that all, or most, of the European countries will move their embassies to Jerusalem, recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and engage robustly with us for security, prosperity and peace.”

Mogherini said the EU would continue to recognize the “international consensus” on Jerusalem.

She reiterated the EU’s commitment to a two-state solution and insisted that it is in Israel’s interest to find a sustainable solution to its conflict with the Palestinians.

She said the EU would step up its peace efforts and would hold talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas next month.

She also condemned attacks on Israelis and on Jews elsewhere in the world, including in Europe.

According to Netanyahu, the discussion with the EU Foreign Ministers did not only focus on the Palestinians, but also on Iranian threats and activities in the regions. He said he told his interlocutors that the Islamic Republic’s hegemonic designs in the region will have ramifications for them as well.

He said Iranian efforts to transplant tens of thousands of Shia forces to Syria is not only bad for Israel, but something that will lead to negative reactions in the region “and the renewal of a religion war that will lead to a flow of people to Europe.”

Earlier in the day, at a photo op with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, Netanyahu said Israel was a force for stability in the Middle East, and as a result, was acting as a bulwark against forces that threaten other states in the region, forces that have led to a massive migration of refugees to Europe.

The Israeli premier put emphasis on the fact that Israeli intelligence had prevented many terrorist attacks on European soil.

“Israel serves a very important security function for the people of Europe, not always understood, but appreciated by the relevant governments,” he said.

He also stressed that Israel is for the EU a big partner for innovation – he mentioned areas such as artificial intelligence, cyber security and connected cars. He also reminded that Israel found offshore gas.

Ahead of his visit to Brussels, Netanyahu had criticized European leaders for what he called their “hypocrisy” in standing against Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and set in motion the process of moving the American embassy from Tel Aviv to the city.

“I hear voices from there condemning President Trump’s historic statement, but I have not heard condemnations of the rockets fired at Israel or the terrible incitement against it,” the Israeli leader said Saturday.

Last Sunday, after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris Netanyahu said that Jerusalem has always been Israel’s capital, and that “the sooner the Palestinians come to grips with this reality, the sooner we’ll move toward peace.”

“Paris is the capital of France, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel”, as they met in Paris amid heightened tensions in the West Bank.

Macron condemned attacks on Israel, but said he opposes Trump’s decision on Jerusalem. Macron described it as a “breach of international law and a risk for peace. In risk for peace because I believe these statements do not serve security, including the security of Israel and the Israelis.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told French President Emmanuel Macron, “Paris is the capital of France, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem It has been the capital of Israel for 3,000 years and the capital of the Jewish state for 70 years.’’

“We respect your history and choices and we know that France will respect ours.

“I think this is essential for peace, what peace requires is to be built on a foundation of truth, on the facts of the past and the present.

“This is the only way you can be realistic and build a successful future.”

Netanyahu added that acknowledging that Jerusalem is the Israeli capital stems from “a nice book: The Bible” and said the sooner Palestinians come to grips with that fact, the sooner the two sides will be able to move forward towards making peace.

“(The international community) – United Nations, UNESCO – they try to deny our millennia-long connection to Jerusalem. It’s absurd… the seat of our government is in Jerusalem, our Supreme Court, the Knesset, the president’s residence, the prime minister’s office.”

Netanyahu said that Israel is the “vanguard” of French values in the Middle East and called the French president a “true friend.”

Macron and Netanyahu conceded that they held opposing views on US President Donald Trump’s decision. The French President reaffirmed his disapproval of Mr Trump’s controversial move, saying the US had “unilaterally recognised something that is not complying with the international law”.

He appealed for calm in the Middle East and asked the Israeli premier to “give peace a chance” by offering a gesture to Palestinians, such as a settlement freeze on the West Bank.

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