European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is facing renewed criticism after reportedly comparing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to South Africa’s apartheid regime during confidential meetings with Mexican officials, Euractiv reports.
The remarks were allegedly made during a visit to Mexico City in late May, where Kallas was attending a summit as part of a senior EU delegation. Diplomats and officials familiar with the discussions told Euractiv that the former Estonian prime minister drew parallels between Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank and the racial segregation system that existed in South Africa until the early 1990s.
The comparison has sparked concern among EU diplomats because it departs from the bloc’s official position. While Brussels has criticised Israeli settlement policy and called for a two-state solution, the EU has generally avoided endorsing claims that Israel operates an apartheid system. Several member states, including Germany and France, have rejected such characterisations.
The controversy comes amid broader criticism of Kallas’ leadership of the European External Action Service (EEAS). According to Euractiv, several national governments have expressed concern over a series of diplomatic missteps, prompting growing debate within some European capitals about the future role of the EU’s foreign-policy apparatus.
