JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Thursday reaffirmed his decision to suspend contact with European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, saying she has yet to deny reports that she compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa.

The dispute escalated after Kallas said she values dialogue with Israel and remains open to continued engagement despite differences. Sa’ar responded that her statement failed to directly address the allegations.

“If you made the statements, stand behind them. If you did not make them, deny them,” Sa’ar wrote on social media, adding that his decision would remain unchanged until the matter is clarified.

Sa’ar accused Kallas of hostility toward Israel and said ties would remain frozen until she publicly retracts or clarifies the reported remarks.

A European Union spokesperson previously declined to directly address the reports, saying Kallas’ position on the conflict has been expressed publicly on multiple occasions.

The diplomatic dispute marks another point of tension between Israel and the European Union amid disagreements over the war in Gaza and broader Israeli-Palestinian issues.

Madam,

With all due respect, even in your remarks here you refrain from denying or condemning what has been attributed to you and published publicly. That speaks for itself.

To the best of my knowledge, the statements attributed to you regarding “apartheid” do not reflect the… https://t.co/kETNPXTZK8

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) June 18, 2026