EU power struggle erupts over Israel as Von der Leyen sends envoy to bypass top diplomat

Israel has deepened a power struggle inside the European Union between Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the EU's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. The conflict became public last week when Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar cut off relations with Kallas. Saar acted after Kallas allegedly compared Israel's treatment of Palestinians to South Africa's apartheid system. Despite this diplomatic rupture, the European Commission sent Dubravka Šuica, the EU commissioner for the Mediterranean, to Israel on Monday and Tuesday. The trip effectively undermines Kallas's authority. Šuica met with Saar, who used the meeting to criticize Kallas again. "Israel values its relationship with Europe and believes in broad, honest, and open dialogue," Saar said after the meeting. "But dialogue cannot mean one side imposes political positions on the other, especially on matters affecting the core of our existence." The Commission defended the visit, saying it was planned for months and coordinated with the EU's diplomatic service. Šuica also planned to meet Palestinian authorities and discuss Gaza, recovery plans, and UN resolutions. This is not the first time von der Leyen has used Šuica for foreign policy. Earlier, von der Leyen sent Šuica to a peace meeting on Gaza organized by former US President Donald Trump. EU Council President António Costa had said the EU would not participate. Many EU member states criticized von der Leyen for acting without their approval. Kallas is also facing internal pressure. A report, reportedly written by France and Germany, suggests abolishing or changing the EU diplomatic service. The report claims Kallas fails to represent EU positions well in a changing geopolitical world. Diplomatic sources say von der Leyen may have leaked this report. Tensions over Israel are not new. When Josep Borrell was EU foreign policy chief, Israel refused to meet him because of his comments on Israeli attacks on Palestinians. Borrell and von der Leyen clashed repeatedly. After news of Šuica's visit, Borrell posted on social media: "Israel declares Kaja Kallas persona non grata for alleged antisemitic attitude, and the next day her colleague Commissioner Dubravka Šuica lands in Tel Aviv, exchanging smiles and no reproach with Minister Gideon Saar. What a show of 'solidarity and coordination' in the EU." Commission sources said Šuica expressed "deep concern about the deterioration of the situation regarding illegal settlements in the West Bank." But diplomatic sources point to von der Leyen as the main obstacle to imposing sanctions on those settlements. A Commission spokesperson said the EU is still considering new penalties. However, since the Gaza conflict began in 2023, sanctions against illegal settlements have been repeatedly delayed. Only a few sanctions against the most violent settlers have been imposed. Saar stated on Tuesday: "They say the settlements are illegal. We say that is not true. I do not think there is another nation on this planet that has better documented proof of its right to its land."