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The EU ’s foreign policy chief has rejected a call made by Israel’s Prime Minister for it to follow the US in recognising Jerusalem as the country’s capital.
Federica Mogherini said during a news conference in Brussels that there was “full EU unity” in support of the status quo, whereby the international community conducts diplomatic relations via embassies in Tel Aviv.
Israel has said Jerusalem is its capital since it occupied the eastern part of the city, part of the West Bank , after the Six Days War in 1967. Many Israelis regard it as their “eternal and undivided” capital but Palestinians say East Jerusalem is the capital of a future Palestinian state.
But in an announcement on Thursday that drew international condemnation Donald Trump said the US State Department would be moving its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv in a move that was a de facto acknowledgement of the city as the capital.
The international consensus on Jerusalem is that its status should be decided at the later stages of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
The view is that Jerusalem should eventually become the capital of both an Israeli and Palestinian state as part of the two-state solution.
But Mr Netanyahu, during the first visit to Brussels by an Israeli prime minister in 20 years, claimed Mr Trump’s decision was a reflection of “reality” and urged the EU member states to follow them.
Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capitalShow all 22 1 /22Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of Difa-e-Pakistan Council a coalition of right wing Islamic parties, burn an effigy of US President Donald Trump, during a protest in Quetta, Pakistan
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli police scuffle with a Palestinian protester outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn pictures of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu following Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli forces disperse Palestinian protesters outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on 7 December 2017
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organization, chant slogans as they burn Israeli and US flags during a protest against Donald Trump in Peshawar
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinians paint an 'X' over the face of a picture of US president Donald J. Trump which was painted on the Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protestors burn the Israeli flag and a poster of US President Donald Trump in Gaza City
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of a Pakistani religious party rally against Donald Trump in Lahore
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn the US and Israeli flags in Gaza City
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital A poster depicting U.S. President Donald Trump is burnt during a protest against Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the West Bank city of Ramallah
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli forces detain a Palestinian protester during clashes that followed protests against US President Donald Trump recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Hebron
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters shout slogans against Donald Trump
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital A Palestinian protester wears a Guy Fawkes mask used by the anonymous movement during clashes with Israeli troops in Hebron
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian demonstrators clash with Isralei troops during protests
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of a Pakistani religious party chant anti-American slogans during a rally in Islamabad, Pakistan
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Pakistanis burn a representation of the U.S. flag during a protest rally in Hyderabad
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Young Palestinian women look on as smoke billows from burning tyres as fellow Palestinian demonstrators clash with Isralei troops
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protesters burn a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump at a protest in Islamabad
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protestors shouts slogans against US President Donald Trump as they hold Palestinian and Turkish flags during a protest near the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protestors put their feet over a picture of US president Donald Trump during a protest in the West Bank City of Nablus
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Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Pakistani protesters burn tires at an anti-Donald Trump rally in Multan
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He said all or most European countries would move their embassies to Jerusalem and recognise it as Israel’s capital even though there is no evidence that any are planning to do so.
The politician said foreign powers must make the declaration “because recognising reality is the substance of peace, the foundation of peace”.
Mr Netanyahu said Europe must "stop pampering the Palestinians".
“I think the Palestinians need a reality check. You have to stop cutting them slack. That’s the only way to move forward towards peace”, he added.
Mr Trump’s decision has been followed by days of fighting between Palestinian militants and the Israeli Defence Force in the West Bank and Gaza.
Protesters took the street for a “Day of Rage” on Friday which saw thousands take to the streets.
The following day two Hamas militants were killed when Israel launched fresh airstrikes on Gaza in response to rocket fire from the enclave and an Israeli security guard was stabbed in Jerusalem’s central bus station on Sunday.