The German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, stated this Thursday in Brussels that he does not support the "language" attributed to the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, in a closed-door meeting in which she allegedly equated Israel with the South African apartheid regime, which has led the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, to suspend contacts with the head of European diplomacy.
"I do not share that choice of language," the conservative leader stated upon arriving at the European Council, which brings together the EU Heads of State and Government in Brussels, when questioned about the controversial expressions attributed to Kallas, who for her part did not wish to specify whether she actually uttered them.
The European Union leaders plan to address the situation in the Middle East in the second session of the summit on Friday, in a context where about a dozen member states, including Spain, are calling for the EU to study the possibility of imposing sanctions on Israel.
Saar announced this very Thursday the breaking of all contacts with the High Representative in response to reports disseminated last week by the European digital media outlet Euroactiv, which, citing diplomatic sources, indicated that Kallas referred to Israel in those terms.
Regarding this point, Merz limited himself to indicating that it is a matter that "still needs to be discussed" within the European Council "conscientiously," although he stressed that he does not share the "choice of words" attributed to the head of community diplomacy.
Upon arriving at the summit, Kallas herself was also questioned about the controversy, but she opted not to clarify whether the statements for which Israel reproaches her took place or not.
"I am not going to comment on anything that has been said or not said behind closed doors. I have to deal with these kinds of issues every week. So let's stick to the statements I make publicly every week. That is the European position I am representing," she defended before the media.
However, Kallas reiterated her stance as the representative of the European bloc and admitted differences with the Israeli Executive, acknowledging that she has held "open and difficult" conversations, although she emphasized the importance of keeping diplomatic channels open.
"It is true that we do not always agree on all points of view. We have been very critical and I have maintained some open and difficult conversations, although I consider them to have been constructive and we must continue on that path," he pointed out.