Israel slams EU’s Kallas for ‘apartheid’ comment: Are ties unravelling?
Summary
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he would stop all talks with the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas after reports said Kallas compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to South Africa’s apartheid system. Kallas did not deny the reports and emphasized the EU’s commitment to dialogue and a two-state solution. The incident highlights tension but experts say it is more symbolic than a complete break in EU-Israel relations.Key Facts
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced suspension of contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
- Saar reacted to reports that Kallas compared Israel’s Gaza and West Bank policies to apartheid in South Africa.
- Kallas did not deny the comments but reaffirmed the EU’s support for dialogue and a two-state solution.
- Saar called the comparison a “blood libel” and expected a retraction that did not come.
- The EU’s diplomatic service (EEAS) led by Kallas is caught between its own political limits and member states’ foreign policies.
- EU-Israel relations remain complicated but not fully broken; individual EU countries have different approaches.
- Ireland has criticized the EU for not taking stronger action against Israel for alleged war crimes and supports sanctions against some Israeli officials.
- The EU has struggled to agree on sanctions or trade restrictions linked to Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, which are considered illegal under international law.
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