EU tells Netanyahu: "We will not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital"

BRUSSELS, Dec 11 (KUNA) -- EU foreign ministers told Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu Monday bluntly on his face Monday that the 28-member European bloc will not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel like the US has done.
"The PM (Netanyahu) mentioned a few times he expected other countries to follow president Trump's decision ... he can keep his expectations for others, because from the European Union member states' side, this move will not come," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a press conference on Monday after a two-hour meeting with Netanyahu.
"We underlined that the lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians remains top priority for the European Union and we have a consolidated and very much united position. PM Netanyahu realised from the ministers themselves that there is full EU unity on this that the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states with Jerusalem as a capital of both, the State of Israel and the State of Palestine," she said.
"The EU and its member states will continue to respect the International consensus on Jerusalem until the final status of the holy city is resolved through direct negotiations between the parties. It was a clear and united message that all the 28 Foreign Ministers conveyed to the PM," stressed Mogherini.
Netanyahu, the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit the EU in 22 years, called on the EU to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. (end) nk.bs