"Because we have a very strong relationship with Israel, we have an opportunity to articulate our point of view on this issue. Settlements are an obstacle to the peace process and we don’t believe it is creating confidence, on the contrary, "said Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel in Jerusalem where he is on a 3-day visit.

Michel, who met Monday with Israeli President Reven Rivlin, called for an increased role for the European Union in the peace process between Israelis and Palestinians, at a time when the Brexit and the election of Donald Trump redistributed the cards and opened a new "momentum" .

"Europe is Israel's main economic and trading partner and the main engine of cooperation in Palestine. It must have more weight and see how it can be more effective in its actions in support of this peace process. We are also paying for the consequences of the unstable situation in the region," the Belgian premier said.

Since Belgium has been experiencing the terrorist threat, it has intensified its cooperation with Israel whose know-how in terms of security has become a benchmark. In recent months, several Belgian politicians and police have met with their Israeli counterparts in the field of airport security.

"The phenomenon of Daesh is no longer sporadic but widespread," declared President Rivlin as he met with Michel. "Our know-how is at the disposal of the free world to carry out this fight".

During his visist, the Belgian Prime Minister will also meet with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, meet Belgians who made aliyah in Israel and visit the Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem in Jerusalem