Kallas says she is ready to continue dialogue with Israel

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas reaffirmed the European Union's commitment to its stated position on the Middle East conflict and rejected accusations of bias against Israel.

According to Report's European bureau, she made the remarks to journalists ahead of a meeting of the European Council in Brussels.

"I have had very good, open and frank, and at times very difficult discussions with Minister Gideon Saar, which I consider highly constructive. We are ready to continue them," she said.

According to Kallas, she remains prepared to continue dialogue with Israel despite the Israeli foreign minister's decision to suspend contacts with her over disagreements regarding Middle East policy and her statements.

"We do not agree with the Israelis on everything, particularly regarding settler violence and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. We are very critical of this," she said.

Kallas stressed that the European Union continues to support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and argued that the actions of settlers make such a solution nearly impossible. She also noted that the EU strongly urges the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Kallas declined to comment on allegations regarding remarks she was purported to have made behind closed doors.

"I am not going to fight shadows. Someone says I said something somewhere. Let us stick to the statements I make publicly," she said.

Earlier on Thursday, Gideon Saar announced that he was cutting all contacts with Kallas after she compared Israel to apartheid-era South Africa during a visit to Mexico. The minister said the decision would remain in effect until the EU's top diplomat retracts the alleged remarks.

Kallas emphasized that she represents the official position of the European Union and believes communication channels should remain open even in the presence of deep disagreements.

"This is the European position that I represent," she said.