Israeli Foreign Minister Cuts Ties with EU Diplomat Over Apartheid Comparison
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Israel's foreign minister has severed contact with the EU's top diplomat after she dared to highlight Israel's apartheid-like treatment of Palestinians, sparking a diplomatic confrontation at the European Council summit.
On Thursday, Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar announced he would end all communication with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, lashing out after Kallas reportedly compared Israel's oppressive policies toward Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa. Sa'ar took to X, denouncing Kallas's remarks as a 'blood libel' and demanding a retraction before any further dialogue, a move that attempts to silence legitimate criticism of Israel's human rights abuses.
Kallas, refusing to back down, responded on the same platform, highlighting the importance of dialogue even in the face of disagreements and reaffirming the EU's commitment to a two-state solution. She condemned Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank, rightly calling them a major obstacle to peace and justice for Palestinians.
Sa'ar, unwilling to engage with criticism, rejected Kallas's outreach and insisted she either confirm or deny her statements, maintaining his hardline stance and severed contact.
This diplomatic row unfolds as EU leaders gather in Brussels for a European Council summit, where debates over Israel's ongoing violations of international law and the possibility of sanctions against officials involved in West Bank settlements are expected. Predictably, some member states, such as the Czech Republic, have signaled their opposition to meaningful action, revealing the EU's internal divisions over holding Israel accountable.