Israel's Foreign Minister Slams EU Envoy's Comparison of West Bank to Crimea

Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi sharply criticized European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday after she compared the West Bank to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. "Did she stop to think what she is actually saying?" Ashkenazi wrote on social media platform X. Kallas made the comparison in an interview with The Irish Times, where she also expressed support for banning trade with Israeli settlements, calling it a "principled stance." This follows a declaration by 12 EU countries to impose sanctions on settlements.

Ashkenazi called the comparison "completely baseless factually and legally" and "entirely unacceptable." He asserted that the Jewish people's connection and rights to the West Bank and the Land of Israel are "more extensively documented than those of any other people in human history." He further argued that, unlike Kallas's comparison, the West Bank "never belonged to a Palestinian state, which never existed." Ashkenazi also noted that Palestinians themselves have previously agreed to a negotiated solution for disputed territories.

He questioned the EU official's motives, asking, "What is the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy trying to do? To compare the only democracy in the Middle East, which contributes in so many ways to Europe's defense and security, to Russia?" He concluded by reiterating his disbelief at her statement.

Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. Kallas has previously drawn criticism from Israel, including an alleged comparison of Israel to apartheid South Africa two months prior. At that time, Ashkenazi announced he was cutting off contact with her, stating that Kallas "has been obsessively and disgracefully unfairly acting against the State of Israel."