BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 18. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has responded after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced he was severing all official contact with her over controversial remarks attributed to her regarding Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
TurkicWorld reports that Saar accused Kallas of comparing Israel’s policies toward Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa, calling the remarks unacceptable and saying he had “no choice” but to suspend communication unless she retracts or clarifies her position.
In response, Kallas emphasized that the European Union remains committed to maintaining a constructive relationship with Israel, stating that “the EU and Israel have a lot that binds us” and that she values respectful diplomatic engagement.
At the same time, she reiterated the EU’s long-standing position that a two-state solution remains the only viable path toward lasting peace in the Middle East. She also reaffirmed the bloc’s condemnation of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, which the EU considers illegal under international law.
Saar, however, maintained that his decision will remain in place unless Kallas formally denies or retracts the alleged comparison, signaling continued tension between Israel and parts of the EU leadership.
The dispute highlights ongoing diplomatic strain amid broader disagreements between Israel and European institutions over the Gaza conflict and settlement policies in the occupied territories.
