After Sa'ar announced a severance of diplomatic contact, EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas responded: 'There are many things linking the European Union and Israel. Dialogue is the basis of diplomacy, especially when disagreements arise.' The statement comes amid a deepening rift over remarks attributed to Kallas reportedly calling Israel an apartheid state — remarks she has not publicly denied.
The diplomatic confrontation between Israel and the EU has deepened after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced a freeze on contact with EU Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas until she personally denies or condemns remarks attributed to her. According to a report first published by The Zioneer on June 13, Kallas reportedly referred to Israel as an 'apartheid state' in closed diplomatic meetings. Kallas has not publicly addressed the specific allegation.
Earlier Thursday, Sa'ar released an open letter rejecting Kallas's initial response as insufficient, insisting the diplomatic freeze will remain until the 'cloud is removed.' Kallas's new statement, issued shortly after, underscored the EU-Israel relationship's breadth but avoided addressing the apartheid remark directly.
The backdrop: Sa'ar first escalated the row by issuing a public ultimatum — 'no contact until an apology' — drawing attention to Kallas's failure to deny the specific phrase. As The Zioneer reported earlier Thursday, Sa'ar's response to Kallas deemed her reply evasive.
What remains: Kallas has not denied or apologized for the 'apartheid state' citation. The diplomatic status quo — suspended high-level contact — continues.
- DevelopingSa'ar and EU foreign minister spar on X after she declares boycott of Israel
- StrongSa'ar demands Kallas clarify 'apartheid' remark: 'Stand by it or deny it'
- DevelopingIsrael severs contact with EU foreign minister until she apologizes for 'apartheid' remark
- DevelopingEuropean Jewish leader accuses EU foreign policy chief of inciting antisemitism with 'apartheid' rhetoric
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake