German newspaper: Israel crisis left Kaja Kallas isolated in Brussels

After Israel severed communications with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas over an alleged apartheid comparison, the European Commission did not back Kallas. Instead, it sent another commissioner to meet with Israel. This was reported by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. The incident revealed internal divisions within the EU over Israel policy.

Influential German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reported that the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was left isolated in Brussels following a diplomatic crisis with Israel, which stemmed from an alleged comparison to apartheid rule.

Commission did not back Kallas

Israel severed communications with Kallas after she was accused of comparing Israel to an apartheid regime. Rather than standing behind Kallas, the European Commission decided to send Mediterranean region commissioner Dubravka Šuica to meet with Israel's leading politicians. This move was widely interpreted as a sign that the Commission distanced itself from its foreign policy chief.

Divisions in EU Israel policy

The incident highlighted deeper divisions within the European Union over what the EU's position toward Israel should be. Many member states are cautious about Kallas's outspoken approach, fearing tensions with an important partner. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung's coverage suggests that Kallas has found herself in a difficult position, where she must maintain EU unity while her own position has weakened.