Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he expects European countries to follow the US in recognising Jerusalem as his country’s capital.
Netanyahu is in Brussels for talks, the first time an Israeli prime minister has visited the city for more than 20 years.
Donald Trump’s move, in recognising Jerusalem as the country’s capital, has left the US isolated on a highly sensitive issue between Israel and Palestinians.
But arriving in Brussels, Netanyahu again welcomed the announcement, saying Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3,000 years and Trump had put “facts squarely on the table”.
He added: “I believe that all, or most, European countries will move their embassies to Jerusalem, recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and engage robustly with us for security, prosperity and peace.”
As well as recognising Jerusalem, Trump also said he was directing the US state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said: “You know where the European Union stands.
“We believe that the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states, with Jerusalem as the capital of both.”
