Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has decided to sever contacts with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaye Kallas and her office. This decision was reportedly prompted by a statement from Kallas, in which she allegedly compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank to the apartheid regime in South Africa. According to Saar, the severing of contacts will continue until Kallas withdraws her statement.
In a response on the X platform, Kaye Kallas did not directly address the accusation but stated her desire to continue the dialogue with Israel. She emphasized that Israel should also support this dialogue, “especially when there are differences”, adding that the EU and Israel “have a lot in common”.
Kallas also reaffirmed the EU’s position that a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace in the Middle East. She highlighted the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which, according to the EU, are increasingly making it impossible to achieve peace.
Investigation into Trade with Settlements
Earlier this week, Kallas announced that the European Union is investigating the possibility of limiting trade with Israeli settlements. This investigation follows calls from various member states, as reported by the AFP news agency.
Source: de Volkskrant