Kallas-Israel spat draws mixed reactions from EU leaders

EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas faced a mixed reaction at the Brussels summit over alleged remarks comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa, after Israel cut contact with her. #EuropeNews

venerdì 19 giugno 2026 New tab

450 words~2 min read

Published on

19/06/2026 - 16:34 GMT+2

A diplomatic row between the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, and Israel over allegations that she compared the country to apartheid-era South Africa drew mixed reactions from European leaders at the EU summit in Brussels.

"I don't share this characterisation. We need to talk about this at some point, but I don't share this characterisation at all," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on the margins of the European Council summit on Thursday.

The remarks follow media reports alleging that Kallas, during a trip to Mexico last month, told EU diplomats privately that Israel's treatment of Palestinians resembled South Africa's apartheid regime.