Israel Severs Contacts with EU Diplomat Kaja Kallas Over Reported Apartheid Comparison

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Thursday that he is cutting all ties with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following a report that she compared Israel's policies in the West Bank and Gaza to apartheid-era South Africa. The move escalates a growing rift between Israel and the EU over the treatment of Palestinians.

Saar declared on social media that he would "sever all contact" with Kallas until she retracts what he called a "blood libel" directed at Israel. The dispute stems from a June 12 report by the European news outlet Euractiv, which cited unnamed officials and diplomats claiming Kallas made the comparison during a visit to Mexico between May 20 and 22. Kallas has neither publicly confirmed nor denied the alleged remarks.

In a series of posts on X, Saar accused Kallas of "acting obsessively and with blatant unfairness toward the State of Israel." He noted that many European lawmakers had condemned the alleged statements but said Kallas had failed to issue a denial or clarification. "The matter is simple: if you did indeed make these vile and defamatory statements, stand behind them. If you did not make them, deny it," Saar wrote.

Kallas responded on X by addressing Saar directly, emphasizing the importance of dialogue without mentioning the specific allegations. "Dear Gideon, as you know, the EU and Israel have a lot that binds us," she said. "I value our dialogue and engagement, and I'm open to continue in that spirit, respectfully and constructively." She reiterated the EU's position on the two-state solution and its condemnation of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The diplomatic breach comes amid broader tensions between Israel and the EU, which has criticized Israeli settlement expansion and recently imposed sanctions on West Bank settlers. The EU's 27 member states remain divided on Israel policy, with some, like Germany and Hungary, taking more supportive stances, while others, such as Spain and Ireland, are more critical. This incident also adds to internal pressure on Kallas, who has faced scrutiny from some European governments over her performance as EU foreign policy chief.