Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced Thursday that he will sever all diplomatic contact with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas [1].
The move signals a sharp deterioration in relations between Israel and the EU's top diplomatic representative during a period of heightened regional tension.
Sa'ar said the decision follows reports that Kallas described Israel as an apartheid state [3]. The Israeli foreign minister said such characterizations are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated by his government [3].
"I will sever all contact with Kaja Kallas," Sa'ar said [1]. He said, "We cannot tolerate remarks that label Israel as an apartheid state" [3].
Kallas responded to the announcement through EU diplomatic channels. She did not explicitly confirm or deny the specific remark but emphasized her commitment to maintaining a relationship with the country [2].
"I value dialogue and engagement with Israel," Kallas said [2].
The diplomatic rift occurred on June 18, 2026 [1]. The breakdown in communication between the foreign minister and the EU chief may complicate ongoing diplomatic coordination between the two entities, particularly regarding security and human rights standards.
“"I will sever all contact with Kaja Kallas."”
The severing of ties between a key Israeli cabinet member and the EU's foreign policy chief indicates a deepening ideological divide over the legal and political status of Israel's governance. By cutting direct contact, Israel is leveraging diplomatic isolation to signal its rejection of the 'apartheid' label, while the EU's focus on continued 'engagement' suggests an attempt to maintain a functional bridge despite the public fallout.
