The European Union continues to believe that the two-state solution constitutes the best way to achieve a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians, an EU spokeswoman said one day after US Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech in which he forcefully criticised Israeli settlement-building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem and warned that it was helping put the two-state solution in “serious jeopardy.”

EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic says Kerry's remarks "all send one key message: The international community does not give up on peace in the Middle East."

She added: "The only way to end the conflict is through a two-state solution negotiated between the parties."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back at Kerry’s speech, calling it biased against Israel and more focused on settlements than Palestinian incitement to violence.

He has lashed out at US President Barack Obama and Kerry in particularly harsh language, blaming them for orchestrating last week’s U.N. Security Council resolution demanding Israel to stop settlement building.

The United States abstained instead of using its veto power for the first time in euight years, with the resolution passing 14-0.

Netanyahu and other Israeli officials fear a French-organized international Middle East peace conference set for Jan. 15 in Paris could result in further moves against the country.

Speaking Thursday at a military ceremony, Netanyahu said: “I want to work with the next American administration to reinforce the security of our two countries.

“A powerful Israel is an asset for the United States and a guarantee of stability in the Middle East,” he said.

After Trump tweeted ahead of Kerry’s speech “Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!” Netanyahu responded with a tweet of his own.

“President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel!” he wrote.