EU pledges push for Palestinian capital in Jerusalem

The European Union’s top diplomat said Thursday the organization would push for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine where the latter could also claim Jerusalem as its capital.

“The European Union has a clear and united position. We believe the only realistic solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is based on two states and with Jerusalem as the capital of both,” EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a news conference.

Mogherini’s statement comes as President Trump on Wednesday said the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and announced plans to move the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.

{mosads}

His decision drew widespread criticism from European leaders.

British Prime Minister Theresa May called Trump’s decision “unhelpful,” while French President Emmanuel Macron said, “France does not approve.”

In the Middle East, Arab leaders warned the decision could doom the peace process in the region, and Palestinians called for three “days of rage” in response.

The leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas called for a new uprising against Israel in response to Trump’s announcement. 

The European Union is the Palestinians’ biggest aid donor and Israel’s top trade partners, according to Reuters.

Mogherini said that all the entire EU bloc was united on the issue of Jerusalem.

“This is the consolidated European Union position,” she said, saying EU foreign ministers made that clear to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday in Brussels.