Key facts
- European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica spoke with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday.
- The discussion covered EU-Israel relations, regional stability, and Gaza recovery efforts.
- Suica stressed the urgent need for early recovery projects in Gaza.
- The EU has criticized Israel's conduct in the Gaza war and its expansion of West Bank settlements.
- The EU's 27 member states are divided on their approach to Israel.
- Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had previously cut contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, held discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday regarding the European Union's relationship with Israel, regional stability, and efforts to advance early recovery in Gaza. Suica stated on X that the conversation focused on shared interests in security and stability across the Middle East, including the need for a reformed and functioning Palestinian Authority.
Suica emphasized the "urgent need to advance early recovery" in Gaza, noting that continued cooperation is "key to delivering early recovery projects on the ground." The EU had previously announced in July an initiative to fund Gaza's early recovery, aimed at restoring essential services, rehabilitating infrastructure, and strengthening governance.
The EU has expressed criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza while also reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense. Additionally, the bloc has criticized Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, which are widely considered illegal under international law and an impediment to peace.
However, the EU's 27 member states exhibit divisions in their approach to Israel, with some maintaining close ties while others are more critical. This context follows an incident in June where Saar announced he was severing contact with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas over remarks attributed to her comparing Israel to apartheid-era South Africa.