Gideon Saar cuts ties with Kaja Kallas over alleged apartheid remarks

The dispute centers on a June 12 report by Euractiv, which claimed Kallas drew parallels between Israel’s policies in the West Bank and Gaza and the system of racial segregation in apartheid-era South Africa. Saar accused the EU official of acting with "blatant unfairness" toward Israel. In response, Kallas avoided a direct confirmation or denial of the specific remarks, instead emphasizing the necessity of maintaining diplomatic channels. She noted that the EU and Israel share deep ties and argued that dialogue is essential, particularly when significant policy differences arise between the two powers.

The friction reflects broader tensions between Brussels and Jerusalem regarding West Bank settlement expansion, which the EU considers a major barrier to a two-state solution. While the EU has consistently affirmed Israel's right to self-defense, it has simultaneously sanctioned entities linked to human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories. Kallas reiterated that the bloc remains committed to the two-state model as the only viable path to regional stability, a stance that frequently puts her at odds with members of the current Israeli government.