Merz distances himself from Kallas's apartheid comparison with Israel

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly distanced himself from remarks made by EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas, stating he does not share her words comparing Israel's treatment of Palestinians to South African apartheid.

Merz's comments came as he arrived at a European Council summit in Brussels. "We will have to talk about it, but I think this topic must be discussed extensively in the European Council. But, I repeat once more, I expressly do not share that choice of words," the conservative leader said.

The controversy erupted after the publication Euractiv reported that Kallas had made the comparison in closed-door meetings. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced he was cutting off all contact with the head of European diplomacy until she retracted what he termed a "blood libel directed at the only Jewish state in the world, which is also the only democracy in the Middle East."

European Commission Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anouar El Anouni neither denied nor clarified whether Kallas had indeed made the comment, a comparison previously used by the United Nations and organizations like Amnesty International. Following Saar's announcement, Kallas appealed for "dialogue" on social media when "differences" arise, adding that the "EU is always committed to a constructive relationship with Israel."

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