[88484] Diplomatic crisis: Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar cuts ties with the EU Foreign Policy Chief

Diplomatic crisis between Israel and the European Union: Foreign Minister Sa'ar cuts ties with Kaja Kallas

In an unusual diplomatic move, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced today (18.6.2026) a total severance of all contact with the EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas. The decision was made following reports that during a visit to Mexico, Kallas compared the State of Israel to the racist apartheid regime that prevailed in South Africa.

According to reports on the channels Abu Ali Express and NTD News Hebrew (which take a line supporting the Israeli government and Sa'ar's policy), the minister clarified that this was a "blood libel." According to Sa'ar as quoted on News from the Field on Telegram: "Ms. Kallas... has been acting for some time obsessively and with disgraceful unfairness against the State of Israel."

The Foreign Minister emphasized that attempts to receive a denial or clarification from Kallas were not answered, and therefore he had no choice but to cut off communication channels with her personally. Sa'ar noted that he is grateful to European public officials who disassociated themselves from the remarks attributed to Kallas, but noted that until she retracts the comparison of Israel to apartheid, the ties will not be renewed.

The decision is resonating in several local news channels, which emphasize the importance of the step as a defense of Israel's status as the "only democracy in the Middle East." As of this moment, no official response has been published on behalf of the European representative regarding the matter.