EU will continue to recognize the "international consensus" on Jerusalem

Speaking in Brussels, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged European governments to accept "reality" and recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s unilateral recognition.

"There is now an effort to bring forward a new peace proposal by the American administration," Netanyahu said. "I think we should see what is presented and see if we can advance this peace."

The EU’s top diplomat Federica Mogherini reiterated the EU’s position, saying Brussels will continue to recognize the "international consensus" on the question of Jerusalem, which stipulates the city’s status must be decided between Israelis and Palestinians during peace talks.

"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."

She also condemned "all attacks on Jews everywhere in the world".

According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.

Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.

Jerusalem is also home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.