Israel cuts ties with EU foreign policy chief over apartheid comparison report

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said Israel is severing all contact with Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, after reports that she compared Israel to apartheid-era South Africa during a visit to Mexico. Sa’ar made the announcement in a statement accusing Kallas of acting for some time with “obsession” and “grossly dishonest” hostility toward Israel.

In his remarks, Sa’ar said many European elected officials had already distanced themselves from and condemned what he called the “grave” comments. He added that Kallas had not issued any denial, response, or clarification so far.

Sa’ar said that, as Israel’s foreign minister, he had “no choice” but to break off all ties with her until she retracts what he described as a “blood libel” against the Jewish state, which he said is also the only democracy in the Middle East. He concluded by saying, “And so I am doing.”