Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been rebuffed in meetings in Brussels after urging European foreign ministers to follow the US’s lead in recognising Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

During his first ever visit to the European Council’s headquarters on Monday, the Israeli leader told officials US President Donald Trump‘s move made peace in the Middle East possible “because recognising reality is the substance of peace, the foundation of peace”.

Palestinians should also move to “recognise the Jewish state and also recognise the fact that it has a capital. It’s called Jerusalem.”

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Europe must “stop pampering the Palestinians”, the Israeli Prime Minister said.

“I think the Palestinians need a reality check. You have to stop cutting them slack. That’s the only way to move forward towards peace.”

Mr Netanyahu’s overtures appear to have been comprehensively rejected by European officials, however.

Immediately after a closed-door breakfast meeting, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom, told reporters: “I have a hard time seeing that any other country would [recognise Jerusalem as Israeli] and I don’t think any other EU country will do it.”

Her comments echo those made by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini last week, both of whom have called for the EU to take the lead on the now “urgent” need to restart the peace process.

The US President shocked even his closest allies with last Wednesday’s declaration that the country would break with decades of established foreign policy and international law by recognising the holy city as the Israeli capital, moving its embassy there from Tel Aviv.

Israel annexed East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six Day war, a move regarded as illegal by the international community.

Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Show all 22 1 /22 Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of Difa-e-Pakistan Council a coalition of right wing Islamic parties, burn an effigy of US President Donald Trump, during a protest in Quetta, Pakistan EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli police scuffle with a Palestinian protester outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City Getty Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn pictures of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu following Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Gaza City AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli forces disperse Palestinian protesters outside Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City on 7 December 2017 AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), an Islamic organization, chant slogans as they burn Israeli and US flags during a protest against Donald Trump in Peshawar REUTERS Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinians paint an 'X' over the face of a picture of US president Donald J. Trump which was painted on the Israeli separation wall in Bethlehem EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protestors burn the Israeli flag and a poster of US President Donald Trump in Gaza City AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of a Pakistani religious party rally against Donald Trump in Lahore AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn the US and Israeli flags in Gaza City AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital A poster depicting U.S. President Donald Trump is burnt during a protest against Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in the West Bank city of Ramallah REUTERS Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Israeli forces detain a Palestinian protester during clashes that followed protests against US President Donald Trump recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in Hebron AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters burn an effigy of U.S. President Donald Trump AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protesters shout slogans against Donald Trump EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital A Palestinian protester wears a Guy Fawkes mask used by the anonymous movement during clashes with Israeli troops in Hebron AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian demonstrators clash with Isralei troops during protests AFP/Getty Images Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Supporters of a Pakistani religious party chant anti-American slogans during a rally in Islamabad, Pakistan AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Pakistanis burn a representation of the U.S. flag during a protest rally in Hyderabad AP Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Young Palestinian women look on as smoke billows from burning tyres as fellow Palestinian demonstrators clash with Isralei troops AFP/Getty Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protesters burn a picture of U.S. President Donald Trump at a protest in Islamabad REUTERS Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Protestors shouts slogans against US President Donald Trump as they hold Palestinian and Turkish flags during a protest near the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Palestinian protestors put their feet over a picture of US president Donald Trump during a protest in the West Bank City of Nablus EPA Protests erupt after Trump recognises Jerusalem as Israel's capital Pakistani protesters burn tires at an anti-Donald Trump rally in Multan AP

Both Israelis and Palestinians claim the holy city as their undivided capital. Under the 1993 Oslo peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is to be decided at an advanced level of peace talks.

While welcomed by Mr Netanyahu, many other world leaders, including US allies such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have expressed concern that the controversial move could spark renewed violence in the region and wider Muslim world.

Protests have been held across the globe and four Palestinians have been killed in violent clashes with Israeli security forces in the West Bank and Gaza. An Israeli soldier was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack carried out by a Palestinian on Sunday.

On Monday, Hezbollah – the Lebanese militant group which has sworn Israel’s destruction – held a rally in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh attended by tens of thousands of people.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Death to America and Israel” and waved Hezbollah and Palestinian flags.

More than 6,000 people also gathered in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta for a fifth day of solidarity protests against the US’s decision.

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In the Palestinian territories and Jerusalem itself, however, demonstrations appear to be winding down.

The US has been seeking to resurrect talks between Israel and the Palestinians since Mr Trump took office; the President has previously described brokering an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict “the ultimate deal”.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, however, says the US’s symbolic move on Jerusalem is as good as a “withdrawal” from the peace process.

Hamas, the militant organisation that rules the Gaza Strip, has called for a third “intifada” as a result of the US’s decision.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said last week it would still be up to the Israelis and Palestinians to hammer out all other issues surrounding the city in future talks and that a “reality check” was needed to revitalise peace talks.

European officials, however, have been sceptical.

On Monday, many reiterated to reporters throughout the day that their official position still holds that East Jerusalem, Golan Heights and the occupied West Bank are not Israeli territory.