Israel’s foreign minister says he is severing all contact with the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, after a report alleged she compared Israel to apartheid-era South Africa. Multiple outlets report that Israel’s Gideon Saar made the announcement on Thursday, citing what he called “blatant unfairness” in how the EU has dealt with Israel.
The move comes amid already strained Israel–EU relations following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. Sources note that the relationship is also strained by allegations of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
According to the reports, Saar argues that Kallas is approaching Israel in a manner he describes as unfair. The outlets describe the decision as a significant escalation in diplomatic friction between Israel and the EU.
All accounts attribute Israel’s step to the media report about the alleged apartheid comparison, rather than providing additional details about any formal EU response to the claim.
