EU-Israel tensions mount as senior commissioner holds hidden Jerusalem meeting

European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica is in Jerusalem for an undisclosed meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, amid a growing diplomatic dispute between the Israeli government and the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.

The meeting, which was scheduled to be followed by a press statement, has attracted attention due to the lack of public information surrounding it, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The engagement did not appear on Šuica’s official calendar, while neither her office nor Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded to requests for comment. Diplomatic sources in Brussels also indicated they had not been informed about the purpose or agenda of the talks.

The visit comes against the backdrop of an escalating disagreement between Sa’ar and Kallas. According to reports, the EU’s foreign policy chief compared Israel’s treatment of Palestinians to apartheid-era South Africa. In response, Sa’ar reportedly suspended diplomatic contacts with Kallas until clarification was provided regarding the remarks.

Kallas has emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with Israel but has neither confirmed nor denied making the reported comments.

The meeting between Šuica and Sa’ar has prompted questions about the state of EU-Israel relations and the European Commission’s diplomatic engagement with the Israeli government at a time of heightened tensions between Brussels and Jerusalem.

By Vafa Guliyeva