The EU expressed alarm last week at the US decision, but Netanyahu said Trump had simply stated facts by acknowledging that Jerusalem had been the capital of the Israeli state for 70 years and of the Jewish people for 3,000 years. "It doesn't obviate peace, it makes peace possible, because recognising reality is the substance of peace, it's the foundation of peace," Netanyahu said in a statement alongside Mogherini ahead of a breakfast meeting with EU foreign ministers. "I believe that all or most of the European countries will move their embassies to Jerusalem , recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and engage robustly with us for security, prosperity and peace," Netanyahu said. After nearly two hours of talks between Netanyahu and the EU ministers, Mogherini gave a flat rejection of his suggestion they could follow Trump. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Monday for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks to resume, including on Jerusalem .

Source: The Nation December 12, 2017 01:26 UTC