Belgium urges EU to take active role on Jerusalem

By Serife Cetin

BRUSSELS

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said Thursday the EU must take a “more active role” in any dialogue in the Middle East over Jerusalem.

Speaking in a Radio 1 interview in Belgium, Reynders said the unilateral decision of U.S. President Donald Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital was regrettable.

Reynders said there was a huge risk of violence, adding: "We must now move towards dialogue and not take a unilateral decision."

"Now the EU needs to play a more active role in the peace process. We have an important position as one of the main trading partners of Israel and one of the main supporters of the Palestinian government," he said.

The Belgian minister also stressed that a two-state solution is the right option.

Meanwhile, the EU said its "position remains unchanged”.

"The EU and its Member States will continue to respect the international consensus on Jerusalem embodied in, inter alia, UNSCR 478, including on the location of their diplomatic representations until the final status of Jerusalem is resolved," an EU statement read.

"A negotiated two-state solution, which fulfils the aspirations of both sides, is the only realistic way of bringing the lasting peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve," the statement added.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the decision to recognize Jerusalem and move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv despite widespread international opposition.

Jerusalem remains at the core of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Ahead of his election last year, Trump repeatedly promised to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem.

* Ilker Girit contributed to this story from Istanbul