EU Foreign Policy Chief's Israel-Russia Comparison Sparks Outrage in Jerusalem

Israeli Foreign Minister G Gideon Saar vehemently criticized EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on September 11 after she drew a parallel between the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) and Crimea, which was annexed by Russia. Saar questioned Kallas's judgment in a post on social media platform X, asking if she had considered the implications of her statement.

Kallas made the comparison in an interview with The Irish Times, where she also supported a trade ban on Israeli settlements, calling it a "principled position." This came after 12 countries announced intentions to impose sanctions on these settlements. Saar rejected the comparison as "unacceptable" and lacking factual or legal basis. He asserted that the Jewish people's historical connection and rights to Judea, Samaria, and the Land of Israel are extensively documented, more so than any other people's rights in history. He further argued that Judea and Samaria never belonged to a Palestinian state, which he stated has never existed, and that Palestinians themselves previously agreed to negotiate a solution for the disputed territories.

Saar questioned Kallas's motives, asking why she would compare Israel, "the only democracy in the Middle East" that contributes to Europe's security, to Russia. He concluded his statement by reiterating his question about whether she had fully considered her words.

The article provides context on Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, following protests and a referendum. It notes that Crimea was transferred to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in the 1950s and remained part of independent Ukraine until its annexation by Russia, which Moscow deemed a correction of a historical error.

This is not the first instance of conflict between Saar and Kallas. Approximately two months prior, Kallas reportedly compared Israel to the apartheid regime in South Africa, a statement her office did not deny. Following that, Saar announced he was ceasing contact with Kallas, accusing her of acting against Israel with "obsession and blatant bad faith." He recalled reports of her comparing Israel to a "racist apartheid regime" during a visit to Mexico and thanked European representatives who distanced themselves from her remarks.