European recognition of Palestinian state irresponsible: Israel

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Friday termed as "irresponsible" the European politicians who have called for unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, a media report said.

"Jerusalem is Israel's capital and it is not a settlement," Netanyahu said Friday as he met with the new European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini here, The Jerusalem Post reported. Referring to Sweden's recognition of Palestine as a state last month, Netanyahu said that it was totally "irresponsible" for European nations to take such a step.

He also dismissed the charges that Jewish construction over the Green Line was harmful to the peace process. "The neighbourhoods where Jews live and where we are building have been in the hands of Israeli governments for the last 50 years," Netanyahu said.

He added that there can't be a situation where Europe recognises a Palestinian state that doesn't accept Israel as a Jewish state. "The issue is not territory, but Israel's right to exist and the refusal of others to recognise that, no matter what the border," the prime minister said.

Mogherini called for a regional approach to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman.

"There is a need for a regional approach. Israel's security and safety will never be guaranteed unless there is a regional framework that fully allows that. The EU is and will remain ready to work in this direction with all partners of the region as well," she said.

Mogherini is on a two-day visit to Israel and Palestinian territories to mark her first diplomatic foray as the EU's new foreign policy chief.