Israel cuts ‘all contact’ with Kaja Kallas after her statements on apartheid | EURACTIV EN

Israel’s foreign minister said Thursday he had “no choice but to cut off all contact” with senior representative Kaja Kallas until she retracted her comments comparing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to that of South Africa during the apartheid regime.

Euractiv wrote last week that Ms Kallas – the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission – had compared South African apartheid to current Israeli policy toward Palestinians during meetings with Mexican government officials during a visit to Mexico last month.

“I am grateful to the many European elected officials who condemned this shocking statement,” the minister posted on X on Thursday israélien of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gideon Sa’ar.

“However, to date, no denial, clarification or response has been made by her regarding these serious statements. Therefore, as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, I have no choice but to suspend all contacts with Ms. Kallas.”

The Israeli minister also affirmed that as long as Ms. Kallas had not retracted what he described as “slander comparable to the anti-Semitic accusation of ritual murder” targeting Israel, presented as the only Jewish state in the world and the only democracy of the Middle East, the question would remain unresolved.

A responsible érúsalem a déclaré à Euractiv that Mr. Sa’ar’s remarks were personally aimed at Ms. Kallas, following the fact that she did not react or deny his remarks, more than six days after they were made public.

Israel will continue to dialogue with the European External Action Service (EEAS), which Ms. Kallas heads, as well as with the European Commission, added this official in Jerusalem.

Kallas nevertheless reacted to Mr. Sa’ar’s comments with a message published Thursday June 18 on X.

“Dear Gideon, as you know, the EU and Israel have many ties,” Kallas wrote.

“I attach great importance to our dialogue and engagement, and I am prepared to continue in this spirit, in a respectful and constructive manner. Dialogue is the foundation of diplomacy, especially when differences arise. The EU remains committed to maintaining constructive relations with Israel. “, says his message.

“To achieve peace in the Middle East, the two-state solution remains the only viable path. The EU has condemned illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which make this goal increasingly difficult to achieve. This is the EU position. “, she wrote.

Later the same day, Mr. Sa’ar responded to Ms. Kallas, also through a message on X: « The question is simple: if you actually made these vile and defamatory comments, take responsibility for them. If you didn’t keep them, deny them. Until this matter is clarified, my decision will remain unchanged. HAS”

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Commission spokespeople declined to confirm or deny that Ms Kallas had drawn a parallel with apartheid.

Anouar El Anouni, Commission foreign affairs spokesperson, said the EU remained “committed to a constructive relationship with Israel” and that “dialogue is the foundation of diplomacy, particularly when differences arise.”

Asked about Ms. Kallas’s ability to lead EU foreign policy – given reports of attempts to communicate with Russian President Vladimir Putin by aides to European Council President António Costa – Mr. El Anouni replied that Ms. Kallas “fulfils its mandate 100%”.

Armin Laschet, chairman of the German parliament’s foreign affairs committee, was among the politicians who criticized Ms. Kallas’ comments last week.

“If EU member states continue to allow Ms. Kallas to undermine European foreign policy week after week with unwelcome comments, we risk a return to unilateral national approaches that would weaken Europe’s influence in the world,” Mr. Laschet said.

Björn Stritzel and Magnus Lund Nielsen contributed to this article.

(cs, you)

Cet article a été mis à jour.