Brussels, December 11 (RHC-Agencies) The European Union has rejected Benjamin Netanyahu's call to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, saying the two-state solution remains the only path to resolving the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, met with Netanyahu on Monday in Brussels, the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to the European Union in 22 years.

The meeting came less than a week after the United States announced it would recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and move its embassy to the city, a contentious move that has led to widespread condemnation and deadly clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers.

" 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 the state of Israel and the state of Palestine along the 1967 line," Mogherini said during a press conference with Netanyahu.

"This is our consolidated position and we will continue to respect the international consensus on Jerusalem until the final status of the Holy City is resolved through direct negotiations between the parties," she said.

The Israeli prime minister, meanwhile, reaffirmed his support for Donald Trump's decision on Jerusalem.

Trump's announcement drew worldwide condemnation and sparked protests which continued for a fifth day on Monday. In the West Bank, dozens of Palestinians threw stones at Israeli soldiers.

Palestinian militants in Gaza fired a rocket into Israel, and the Israeli military said it responded with air strikes and tank fire targeting a position of Hamas, reports say.