The European Union's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, has found herself at the centre of a diplomatic dispute with Israel after reports emerged that she compared the country to South Africa's former apartheid regime. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced on Thursday that he would sever all contact with Kallas until she retracts what he called a 'blood libel' against the world's only Jewish state.
The controversy stems from remarks Kallas reportedly made during a visit to Mexico in May, where she met with senior Mexican officials as part of an EU push to strengthen ties with Latin America. Sa'ar, citing those reports, said he had 'no choice but to sever all contact' with Kallas, adding that she had issued 'no denial, clarification or response' regarding the alleged statement.
In a social media post, Kallas responded by emphasising the value she places on 'dialogue and engagement' with Israel, and reiterated the EU's commitment to a 'constructive relationship.' However, she made no mention of the apartheid comment, a silence that Sa'ar was quick to seize upon. 'Even in your words here, you are avoiding denying or condemning what is attributed to you,' he replied. 'If you indeed said those shameful and libelous things - stand behind them. If you did not say them - deny it.'
The incident underscores the deepening fault lines between Brussels and Tel Aviv over the conflict in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian issue. Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, has been a vocal advocate for a two-state solution, which she described as the 'only viable path' to peace in the Middle East. She also condemned 'illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank that make it increasingly difficult to get to that goal.'
EU Divisions and Diplomatic Fallout
The spat comes at a time when the EU is struggling to maintain a unified stance on the Middle East. While the bloc has formally condemned Hamas's 7 October 2023 attacks—which killed around 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage—it has also been critical of Israel's military operations in Gaza and its settlement expansion in the West Bank. The Kallas-Israel spat exposes EU divisions over Middle East policy, with member states like Hungary and Austria often siding more closely with Israel, while others, such as Ireland and Belgium, have been more critical.
Sa'ar's decision to sever contact is a significant escalation, though it remains to be seen whether it will have practical consequences for EU-Israel relations. The EU is a major trading partner for Israel, and the bloc's foreign policy chief plays a key role in coordinating diplomatic engagement. The incident also highlights the broader challenge of balancing principled positions with diplomatic pragmatism.
Kallas's avoidance of the apartheid allegation may reflect a desire to keep channels open, even as she pushes for a two-state solution. The proposal, which envisions two sovereign, democratic states with Jerusalem as a shared capital, has broad international support. In September, 142 countries voted in favour at the United Nations General Assembly, though Israel, the United States, and a handful of others opposed it.
The war in Gaza, which began after the Hamas attacks, has further complicated the landscape. Israeli operations have led to widespread destruction and a humanitarian crisis, drawing condemnation from many European capitals. Meanwhile, the EU has been exploring ways to legally ban imports from Israeli settlements, a move that would have significant economic and political implications.
For now, the ball is in Kallas's court. Whether she chooses to clarify or retract the alleged remark will determine whether the diplomatic freeze thaws or deepens. What is clear is that the incident has laid bare the tensions inherent in Europe's relationship with Israel—a relationship that is both strategically important and increasingly fraught.
