Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took his case to Europe to ask allies to join the United States in recognising Jerusalem as
Israel’s capital, but was met by a firm rebuff from EU foreign ministers who saw the move as a blow against the peace
process. Making his first ever visit to EU headquarters in Brussels, Netanyahu said President Donald Trump’s move made peace in the Middle East possible “because recognising reality is the substance of peace, the foundation of peace.”
Trump announced last Wednesday that the United States would recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, breaking with decades of US policy and international consensus that the ancient city’s status must be decided in Israeli-Palestinian talks. The Trump administration says it remains committed to the peace process and its decision does not affect Jerusalem’s future borders or status. It says any credible future peace deal will place the Israeli capital in Jerusalem, and ditching old policies is needed to revive a peace process frozen since 2014.
But even Israel’s closest European allies have rejected that logic and say recognising Israel’s capital unilaterally risks inflaming violence and further wrecking the chance for peace.