Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said Monday that relations with Europe are important and he believes in direct dialogue, but the dialogue cannot be a one-sided dictate of political positions on core existential issues for Israel. Sa'ar made the remarks in a published statement from the Foreign Ministry.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar issued a public statement on Monday reiterating Israel's openness to dialogue with the European Union while drawing a red line on one-sided political dictates. "Relations with Europe are important to us and I believe in direct dialogue with them," Sa'ar said. "But the dialogue cannot be that one side dictates its political positions to the other — certainly not on core issues of our existence."
The remark comes amid an escalating diplomatic crisis between Israel and the EU after the bloc's foreign minister, Kaja Kallas, was reported to have called Israeli an "apartheid state" in closed meetings. The Zioneer first reported the remark on June 13. Sa'ar responded by severing contact with Kallas until she apologizes, and the two foreign ministers later sparred publicly on X. Sa'ar's latest statement appears to clarify Israel's position: it remains willing to engage, but will not accept lectures on existential security matters.
It remains unclear whether the EU will respond to Sa'ar's remarks or whether the diplomatic rift will be resolved at any level. No new meeting between Sa'ar and Kallas has been announced.
- DevelopingIsrael severs contact with EU foreign minister until she apologizes for 'apartheid' remark
- DevelopingKallas replies to Sa'ar with no apology over 'apartheid' remark, reaffirms EU opposition to settlements
- StrongSa'ar demands Kallas clarify 'apartheid' remark: 'Stand by it or deny it'
- DevelopingSa'ar and EU foreign minister spar on X after she declares boycott of Israel
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