"The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has accepted Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the member countries of the European Union should do the same". This is what the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said today to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.
Today, Netanyahu will meet the foreign ministers of the Twenty-seven in Brussels. This is the first 22-year visit by an Israeli leader to the headquarters of the European Union.
According to Netanyahu, the recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel “makes peace in the Middle East possible. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, no one can deny it. This makes peace possible because recognizing reality is the substance of peace ”.
The Israeli premier stressed that “Europe and Israel are important partners in three main areas. In the area of prosperity, security and in the area of peace ".
The partnership with Israel is vital for the EU in the field of innovation, particularly in cyber security, as "the future will belong to those who innovate and big data, artificial intelligence, connectivity will drive the revolution". Innovation is, therefore, synonymous with the future and Israel is a global partner in this sector as it is receiving 20% of the world's private investments in cyber security.
As for the security aspect, Netanyhau adds that the Middle East is under threat, both from Sunni militants (IS) and from Iranian-led Shiite militants. Israel represents the strongest power in the Middle East. Israeli intelligence is preventing the spread of militant Islam not only by avoiding dozens of terrorist attacks, but also by avoiding the collapse of many parts of the Middle East, over which these Islamist militants would otherwise take control by causing many millions of people pour into Europe ".
"The only realistic solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is based on the two states, the state of Israel and the state of Palestine according to the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem the capital of both" is what Mogherini said, adding that "as friends and partners we want to discuss in mutual interest, and we believe it is in Israel's interest, especially security, to find a sustainable and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is the reason why the European Union will increase its work, together with friends and international partners, but also with friends and partners in the region, starting with Egypt and Jordan, and of course with the parties - Israelis and Palestinians - to begin relaunching the peace process ”.