TEL AVIV, June 18 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced on Thursday that he is severing all contact with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The decision follows reports that Kallas compared Israel to the racist regime of apartheid-era South Africa during a recent diplomatic visit to Mexico.
Sa’ar stated that he would maintain the suspension of communication until Kallas retracts the comments. The dispute stems from a June 12 report by the news outlet Euractiv, which cited unnamed officials claiming Kallas drew the comparison regarding Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
The Israeli Foreign Minister took to social media to voice his strong opposition to the alleged remarks. He accused Kallas of acting with blatant unfairness toward the State of Israel. While the EU maintains a complex relationship with the country, this move marks a significant rupture between the two offices.
“I am severing all contact with the European Union foreign policy chief until she retracts her comments comparing Israel to the racist apartheid regime,” Sa’ar noted in his public statement.
Kallas’s office has not provided an immediate comment or clarification regarding the allegations. The diplomatic freeze arrives as tensions between the bloc and the Israeli government have steadily risen over the past several months.
The relationship between Israel and the European Union has faced repeated challenges recently. The EU has frequently criticized the expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which much of the international community considers illegal.
In May, the bloc implemented sanctions against three individuals and four entities identified as responsible for human rights abuses against Palestinians in the West Bank. Sa’ar previously rejected these measures, maintaining that Israel objects to the EU’s intervention.
The European Union remains internally divided on how to approach the region. While several member states have advocated for more severe diplomatic actions, others continue to prioritize close ties with the country. This latest development underscores the depth of the disagreement regarding regional policies and the broader conduct of the current war in Gaza. Israel continues to maintain its right to defend itself, even as European criticism intensifies.
