EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas privately compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa during confidential talks with Mexican officials. Her remarks contrast with her public support for Israel.
The remarks highlight a potential internal division within the EU regarding its stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and could impact Kaja Kallas's political influence and the bloc's foreign policy direction.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has privately drawn parallels between Israel's treatment of Palestinians and apartheid-era South Africa, according to reports. These closed-door remarks, made during confidential discussions with Mexican officials in May 2026, starkly contrast with her public declarations of solidarity with Israel.
Sources cited by Euractiv, including officials present at the meeting, indicated that Kallas referenced a visit to South Africa's apartheid museum and linked Israel's governance over Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to the former South African system of racial segregation. This comparison has been echoed by various international bodies, human rights organizations, and some states.
The striking nature of Kallas's private comments is amplified by her public record, where she has often affirmed strong support for Israel's security and right to self-defense, even amidst ongoing conflict and international criticism of Israel's actions. Critics have accused her of applying international law inconsistently, particularly when contrasting her firm stance on Russia's actions in Ukraine with her approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Progressive members of the European Parliament have also voiced criticism of the EU's response to the Gaza conflict, deeming it insufficient and hypocritical compared to its reaction to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They have called for stronger sanctions against Israel and a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
This report also emerges amid internal EU power dynamics, with reports suggesting France and Germany are considering proposals to restructure the bloc's diplomatic service, potentially diminishing the influence of Kallas and her External Action Service. Such a move could bolster the authority of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and individual member states.