The acknowledgement of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital by the American President, Donald Trump, “will make peace possible" in the Middle East. This was asserted on Monday by the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. This came during his first visit to Brussels.
He argued, “Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Nobody can deny this...This will make peace possible as it acknowledges the reality which is the substance of peace.” He was speaking with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security, Federica Mogherini. This was before meeting EU foreign ministers.
Mr Netanyahu added, “What President Trump has done outright reflects the reality. Peace is founded upon reality, upon acknowledging reality.” Netanyahu is the first Israeli head of government to go to the European institutions for 22 years.
He said, “There is now an effort under way, by the American administration, to set out a new peace proposal. I think we have to wait and see what is presented, and whether we can thereby advance peace.”
President Trump has decided to send his Vice President, Mike Pence, to the Middle East at the end of the month. However Palestinian leaders have not agreed to this.
For her part, Ms Mogherini reiterated the European Union’s position, favouring an Israeli state and a Palestinian state living side by side, having Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
As the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security considered, “As partners and friends of Israel, we believe that it is in the security interests of Israel to find a comprehensive and sustainable solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Following the American decision, Mrs Mogherini also roundly condemned “all attacks against Jews, everywhere in the world, including in Europe”.
The Brussels Times
