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Israel says it's cutting ties to EU's Kaja Kallas
DW.com • • world
Key Points:
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar severed ties with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas after a Euractiv report alleged she compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians to apartheid South Africa during a visit to Mexico.
- Saar accused Kallas of unfairness toward Israel and demanded she either retract or deny the alleged statement, calling it a "blood libel" against Israel as the only Jewish state and democracy in the Middle East.
- Kallas responded by emphasizing the EU's commitment to constructive dialogue with Israel and reiterated support for a two-state solution, condemning Israeli settlements in the West Bank as obstacles to peace.
- The Euractiv report, based on unnamed sources, claimed Kallas made the apartheid comparison in confidential talks, but her office declined to comment, and the EU stated the comparison is not official policy.
- The incident reflects ongoing tensions between Israel and the EU amid disputes over settlement policies and follows internal EU criticism of Kallas' performance as head of the European External Action Service.
